While some Labor lawmakers feel an extension of three to six months should be sufficient, a majority of the party support an 18-month extension after the current mission expires in August 2008, the report said.

The Labor support means that a majority in the Dutch parliament is now in favor of extending Dutch involvement in Afghanistan. This smoothes the way for the cabinet to announce a decision on extension later this month.

The two other coalition partners, the Christian Democrats and the Christian Union, have already given their backing to a longer stay. But the Labor party appeared to have considerable difficulty reaching agreement on the issue.

Insiders say that after several rounds of discussions in the party, the general feeling is "there will be a responsible phasing out of the mission," the newspaper said.

The Netherlands has some 1,700 troops in Afghanistan, mainly involved in reconstruction in the southern province of Uruzgan. Twelve soldiers have so far died on active duty in the region.

The Dutch government is under pressure from NATO allies to stay longer. Both Canada and Australia have said their own position depends on what the Dutch do.

In October, Dutch Chief of Staff Dick Berlijn advised the government to extend the Dutch mission for two years but with a reduced number of soldiers. The Dutch cabinet is to make a formal decision by the end of this month.