THE HAGUE, 01/12/07 - The Netherlands is extending its military mission in the Afghan province of Uruzgan to August 2010. After that, the mission will be wound down, with the last man to leave by 1 December 2010.

The present mission ends on 1 August 2008. The cabinet decided Friday to add another two years. The number of troops will be reduced from around 1,650 to 1,300-1,400. The costs of the mission are estimated at 1 billion euros.

"On 1 August 2010 we will end our leading military responsibility in Uruzgan come what may," said Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende. "The withdrawal of troops will occur as soon as possible after 1 August 2010 so that (the withdrawal) is completed before 1 December 2010". NATO, not the Netherlands, must take care of the succession after August 2010.

The Lower House will back the cabinet proposal, likely shortly before the Christmas recess. On 7 December, the House will first hold a hearing on the mission. The week after, a round of written questions will follow. On 17 December, a debate with the government is on the agenda, and the House is to make its decision the same week.

The MPs are allocating 12 hours for the 7 December hearings of aid workers, academics, the Afghan defence minister, the governor of Uruzgan, the military and unions. The list of candidate names of guests is still secret. NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer may also attend.

The Socialist Party (SP), leftwing Greens (GroenLinks) and centre-left (D66) will likely be the only parties to vote against an extension. They are holding separate hearings on 6 December with opponents of the military presence in Afghanistan. Christian democratic (CDA) MP Karien van Gennip termed the alternative hearings "unfortunate." Conservative (VVD) MP Hans van Baalen found them "childish."