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Dutch commandos have killed dozens of Taliban-warriors over the recent months. The troops are located in the Afghan province of Uruzgan. Colonel Henk Morsink told the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad, which was published today, about the battle in Afghanistan.

Morsink is the commander of the Deployment Task Force (DTF), and is located in Afghanistan for about two months now. The troops are preparing for a Dutch peacekeeping force to arrive in Uruzgan. In August, 1400 Dutch soldiers will settle in the region under the umbrella of NATO.

Morsink said one of the killed Taliban-warriors was an "important leader" of the Taliban but he didn't give any name.

Dutch commandos were involved in battles with the Taliban for at least six times.

Morsink described a battle on May 30th as "a really, really, big fight". A Dutch Apache-helicopter was also involved. "My men came under heavy fire and were in real danger."

Sometimes the battles took a whole day, Morsink said. He said it was years ago when Dutch commandos were involved in such severe fights

Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende said the security situation in Uruzgan was deteriorating. "There is an increasing number of activities of suspected Taliban," he said.

Sources

• "Dutch kill many Taliban in Afghanistan". NOS, June 10, 2006