THE HAGUE, 03/06/06 - Defence Minister Henk Kamp is considering changing the composition of the Dutch troops in Uruzgan. He shares the concerns felt by army commander General Dick Berlijn. Taliban resistance in the Afghan region is stronger than expected.

In the southern province of Uruzgan, Dutch Apache fighter helicopters had to be deployed for the first time on Thursday in a battle against hostile units. Two Apaches were involved in a two-hour battle between a Dutch special forces reconnaissance unit and an unknown number of insurgents.

For now, the intention is that the Netherlands takes over control of the Tarin Kowt and Deh Rawood districts in Uruzgan from August with 1,400 troops, supported by a 240-strong Australian detachment. Berlijn did not want to rule out an expansion in the number of Dutch troops in Uruzgan, if the experience of the present build-up phase suggests this.

Minister Kamp said Friday after the weekly cabinet meeting that he would not send extra troops. If the situation requires it, he will however seek to change the composition of the troops, for example by deploying more special forces.

Although Berlijn reported no casualties on the Dutch side, he acknowledged that the Taliban "spring offensive" has turned out heavier than NATO had expected. In the provinces of Kandahar (Canada), Helmand (the UK) and Uruzgan (soon, the Netherlands; now the US), the security situation "is worrying, but there is no question of a trend reversal. It is a difficult job, but still possible," according to Berlijn.

Like his general, Kamp is concerned about the power of improvised bombs, which are often set off from a distance when military vehicles go by. The ministry is considering better equipment for surviving these attacks. Berlijn said recently that he was impressed by the armoured Nyala reconnaissance and troop vehicles bought by Canada from South Africa. These are specially built to withstand anti-tank mines.

Kamp said there is no need to declare martial law applicable to the Dutch troops in Uruzgan. There is no threat of lack of clarity on the legal position of Dutch troops, he explained. Foreign Minister Ben Bot said he is "not shocked" by the flare-up of violence in Uruzgan.

The government has sent the troops for the purpose of reconstruction. Radio programme Standpunt polled Friday on the statement that 'the cabinet must acknowledge that Uruzgan is a war mission;' 84 percent of respondents agreed.