KANDAHAR, 16/09/06 - The highest-ranking Dutch officer in Afghanistan expressed his frustration on Friday about the mission in the province of Uruzgan. A constant supply of 'fresh' Taliban from Pakistan means the Dutch troops are beating their heads against a brick wall, Colonel Arie Vermeij suggested.

The colonel is deputy commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). From the Southern Regional Command Centre in Kandahar, he supervises the rebuilding tasks of the international troops in the six southern regions of Afghanistan.

Vermeij claimed that the Taliban thwart ISAF's rebuilding efforts with attacks and other armed activities. It would make a great difference if neighbour Pakistan were to monitor the border area more stringently, he said on Friday in Defensiekrant, the magazine of the Defence Ministry.

"Unfortunately, al-Qaeda supports the Taliban, who also receive help from within Pakistan. The Pakistani government is apparently unable to deal with the Taliban in the border area of Baluchistan and to keep the border crossing with Afghanistan closed. About 40 percent of the Taliban, particularly leaders, form the hard core and arrive well-trained directly from Pakistan."

The colonel observed that the Taliban are continuously supplied with arms from Pakistan and provided with resources such as communication equipment and vehicles. "Our work will remain difficult as long as Pakistan does not keep the border closed. We capture or eliminate many Taliban, but these are replaced by new fighters from Pakistan and other countries," Vermeij explained.

Commandant of the Armed Forces Dick Berlijn does not agree with the colonel's analysis. In Berlijn's view, the situation is difficult but the mission is not impossible. In addition, "consultations with Pakistan are continuously taking place about more efforts to halt the influx. But mountainous land is involved and the tribal structure also plays a role," Berlijn pointed out. "The image of continuous fighting is inaccurate. Many projects are being carried out."

Defence Minister Henk Kamp chose Berlijn's line. The minister added that he could imagine the NATO-led ISAF-mission would like to have more troops. "But these will not come from the Netherlands."