Afstan: More on Dutch plans

Further to this post,

Afstan: Dutch courage

more details:

US set to take over Dutch ISAF mission
...

The Dutch mission in the Afghan province of Uruzgan which is due to end this year is likely to be taken over by the US army.

Commander of the Dutch armed forces Peter van Uhm told a late night talk show that Singapore [?!?] and Australia will join the Americans in the ISAF mission in Uruzgan. NATO still has to approve the move.

Withdrawal

General Van Uhm hopes the Americans will take over Dutch equipment which is being left behind in the Camp Holland and Camp Hadrian at Tarin Kowt and Deh Rawod. For instance, the thousands of armoured shipping containers which the troops use to sleep in for extra protection against attacks and hundreds of vehicles. Facilities for water and energy will probably also be taken over.

The military presence at Chora will be taken on by the Australians [more here] and smaller posts will be handed over to the Afghan army. The Dutch ministry of defence will negotiate the terms for the acquisition of Dutch facilities, which it hopes will bring down the cost of the departure from this part of Afghanistan.

The withdrawal operation, which is currently estimated to cost 200 million euros, will be carried out by a Redeployment Task Force. The operation will begin in August and be completed by December. The Redeployment Task Force will stay on into 2011. The Dutch ISAF mission in Uruzgan, which began in 2006, has cost 1.4 billion euros...

Development projects

Even after the Dutch armed forces have withdrawn, some Dutch military personnel will be left behind to serve with ISAF forces [emphasis added]. Development projects will also continue. In addition, the Dutch government is considering sending a small police training mission with army protection to Afghanistan. This mission may even be located in the province of Uruzgan [emphasis added]...