Afghan reconstruction
Volume 11, No. 38, March 8, 2006

TWO hundred soldiers will deploy to Afghanistan to be part of the Netherlands-led Provincial Reconstruction Team.
Prime Minister John Howard said a security and reconstruction task force would deploy mid -year, with the duration of support about two years.

Tasks such as bridge and road building and reconstructing local communities will be conducted.

Defence Minister Dr Brendan Nelson said the nuts and bolts of the operation would be negotiated with the Dutch Defence Minister.

The reconstruction team will bring the total of Australian troops in Afghanistan to just over 500..