UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 28 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende Thursday urged the international community not to abandon Afghanistan as it required sustained support in coming years.

The international community must not abandon Afghanistan to its fate. The hopes of millions of Afghans rest with us, Balkenende said in his address to the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly.

The Netherlands, which has its troops in Afghanistan, said that lasting peace could be secured only if defence was combined with development and diplomacy.

We are putting that concept into practice in the Afghan province of Uruzgan, together with our Australian partners and other allies, he pointed out. Of the Dutch military presence in Afghanistan, he observed: It is a difficult and demanding mission under UN mandate.

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