The Netherlands will in July hand over the police training centre it has been running in the north Afghan region of Kunduz to the Afghan authorities, Nos television reports on Thursday.

The Netherlands and Germany will remain involved in the centre but will no longer be involved in training Afghan police officers, the broadcaster said.

Justice minister Ivo Opstelten and senior police officers have just been in Kunduz and Kabul to meet Dutch police officers.

Difficult job

‘I told them “you are doing an unbelievably good job in difficult circumstances. The cabinet is proud of you”,’ the minister said.

The Netherlands agreed to send trainers to Afghanistan on condition they worked in the northern province to ensure they only undertook civilian tasks.

The mission started in 2011, following the withdrawal of the Dutch military mission. It is due to continue until 2014.