The risks to police trainers arriving in the northern Afghan region of Kunduz this week are within ‘acceptable’ limits, foreign affairs minister Uri Rosenthal said on Monday.

Speaking on the second of a two-day visit to Afghanistan, Rosenthal said recent events did not necessarily mean Kunduz had become more dangerous.
‘It is clear that there are risks attached to the mission,’ he is quoted as saying. ‘But the Dutch government does not want to take any unnecessary risks. We make continual security analyses and if we feel the situation has worsened, we will take steps to counteract this.’
Guarantees
Rosenthal also said he had been given additional guarantees by the Afghan authorities that the Dutch contingent would not be used in offensive military operations.
In total, the Netherlands is sending a 545-strong mission to Kunduz, including 225 police trainers. The Netherlands pulled out of the military mission to Afghanistan at the end of last year.
Rosenthal was unable to actually visit Kunduz because of a defective plane, the Telegraaf said. The minister is now in India for a two-day visit.