The Polish government has drawn up an Afghan Package, said Defence Minister Bogdan Klich, adding to the expenditure on Poland’s armed forces, currently involved in the multinational mission fighting the Taliban insurgency.

He stated that the details have been discussed with Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the government will debate the issue during the next session of the council of ministers.

"In 2008, we spent about 214 mln zloty (up to 52 mln euro) on new equipment and arms for the mission in Afghanistan,” said the minister. “This year, we have earmarked almost 500 mln zloty and next year I'm planning about 800 mln. But I hope for an increase of up to one billion zloty (over 240 mln euro)," he added.

Minister Klich said that his ministry will not be solely focused on arming the Polish contingent in Afghanistan of 2,000 troops but is also intent on upgrading the army back in Poland. But the government is also considering increasing its commitment to Afghanistan, it was announced recently.

Last week Poland suffered its tenth casualty of the conflict, which has escalated in the run up to presidential elections on August 20. (pg/mnj)