News Flash

Poland: no more forces to Afghanistan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-10-27 01:47

WARSAW: Polish Defense Minister Bogdan Klich denied on Monday that Polish president and prime minister had declared to enlarge the Polish contingent in Afghanistan.

On Saturday US Ambassador to Poland Lee A. Feinstein told TVN 24 television that Polish President Lech Kaczynski and Prime Minister Donald Tusk had offered to maintain the present number of Polish soldiers in Afghanistan or even to increase it.

"The president and prime minister declared that not only would they be keeping Polish soldiers in Afghanistan, but they would also enlarge the contingent. This is something for which we are very grateful," said Feinstein.

The US ambassador made a diplomatic gaffe as neither the Polish prime minister nor the foreign and defense ministers declared that Poland would enlarge its contingent in Afghanistan, Klich said.

Last week the Gazeta Wyborcza daily wrote that Poland would send 600 extra soldiers to Afghanistan next year but Klich stressed that such decision had not been made.

Klich added that underway were consultations on the document on Poland's future involvement in Afghanistan.

The document, prepared by the Defense Ministry, has been sent to the Foreign Ministry. Later it will be sent to the prime minister, Klich said.

He refused to give any details about the document as it was confidential.

Poland, responsible for security in Afghanistan's' Ghazni province, has deployed some 2,000 soldiers, part of the NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Until now 15 Polish soldiers have been killed in attacks or accidents in NATO international force's battle with the Taliban.