President Bronislaw Komorowski has underlined that the reduction of Polish troops in Afghanistan should begin this year.

On Tuesday, the government forwarded a motion to the president to prolong the Polish mission in Afghanistan. Bronislaw Komorowski said that even though he has a different opinion he will sign the motion.

“These are of course issues of a military nature,” President Komorowski siad, adding that “the generals are of the opinion that the more troops the better, I think that in political matters political thinking should rule; but US generals also consider that more troops should remain in Afghanistan, while president Obama thinks that their withdrawal should begin this year, and I agree with him wholeheartedly.”

The motion to prolong the mission is a common procedure which is repeated by the government every six months. This time it coincides with the public debate on the withdrawal of Polish troops from Afghanistan.

Head of the National Security Bureau, Stanislaw Koziej has postulated to begin the reduction in the coming months. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Bogdan Klich has decided that the contingent now leaving for Afghanistan will not be reduced and will amount to 2,600 soldiers.

The reduction of the contingent could begin in autumn, since summer is the most dangerous period where extensive operations on the part of the Taliban are expected. (ab/jb)

Source: IAR