Dutch military personnel on a training mission in Afghanistan are struggling to carry out their duties because of a shortage of security staff and vehicles, defence minister Ank Bijleveld has acknowledged.

The number of soldiers who can leave their base to go and train their Afghan colleagues is limited because not all the security staff assigned to the Dutch contingent speak English, AD reported. Compounding the problem is a lack of panzer vehicles to transport them.

Bijleveld said the problem needed to be sorted out by Nato and there were no plans to send out extra Dutch troops to provide security cover. However, she said the logistical problems were affecting ‘the effectiveness of the mission’.

The troops have also experienced transport problems in the air, where they can only use aeroplanes and helicopters that meet Dutch safety standards.