Verhagen, in Australia for talks with counterpart Stephen Smith, said Dutch soldiers would continue to lead peacekeeping efforts in the restive southern province of Uruzgan until the end of 2010.

He said while his government was yet to have a formal discussion about how to continue its involvement after 2010, it was "clear that the Netherlands will be involved in rebuilding Afghanistan for many years to come".

"It's too early at this stage to talk about the situation beyond 2010, there has been no discussion in the Dutch government, let alone a decision of possible Dutch contribution after 2010 to the ISAF," he said, referring to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.

The Dutch soldiers are currently serving in the south as part of ISAF, fighting against a fierce Taliban insurgency.

Verhagen said the Netherlands' troops had worked well alongside Australian soldiers in Uruzgan but noted that both sides had suffered casualties.

"But we cannot allow Afghanistan to become a safe haven for international terrorists again," he told a joint press conference with Smith in the western city of Perth.

Verhagen's comments follow those in a media report earlier this month that Dutch troops stationed in southern Afghanistan could take part in more missions there after the present one ends.

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