Poland's Defense Minister Bogdan Klich said on Thursday his country will boost its role in Afghanistan after it reaches an accord with NATO partners.
"We have just finished the first round of negotiations on this with NATO. My talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Gates later this month would actually only aim to seal the proposal we have been made (by NATO in response to Polish requests)," Polish news agency PAP quoted Klich as saying.
"The Americans know we would like to boost our mission's visibility in Afghanistan by taking responsibility for a province under ISAF's jurisdiction," Klich said in an interview.
Having about 1,200 troops in Afghanistan as a part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Poland has agreed to send 400 more soldiers.
Poland would also like a Polish commander to receive a senior overall role in the 41,700-strong ISAF force, which includes representatives from 39 countries, Klich said.
"If Poles take responsibility for a certain territory in Afghanistan and can fly a Polish flag there, a Polish general should become a deputy operational commander in ISAF," he concluded.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article