Poland's foreign minister has met with EU heads of diplomacy in Brussels to discuss EU engagement in Afghanistan. The Polish mission currently serving there as part of the US-led operations is preparing for a much tougher term.Radoslaw Sikorski has invited heads of diplomacy from EU states, which are also NATO memeber countries, to show that the EU should increase involvement in the Afghan mission. Radoslaw Sikorski pointed that the EU Afghan mission which is to deal with police training should be enlarged and Brussels should provide more funds for the operation, making it a top priority issue.
Meanwhile in February Polish and US officials signed a deal designed to increase cooperation between Polish and US special forces in their fight against global terrorism. The Polish contingent in Afghanistan has received new orders which follow the operation plans of the US on the territory. The new orders for the contingent allow the Polish troops to react even in the most difficult situations, however have to run in line with the leading mission of the contingent which is 'assistance'. The beginning of Spring may see more activity on part of the Taliban and the orders are to ensure that preventive measures can be taken.
The biggest Polish contingent within the framework of NATO, numbering 16 hundred troops, is serving currently in Afghanistan. The Polish troops are responsible for securing the main road from Kabul to Kandahar.Also a group of the best specialists is to take over the management of the airport in Kabul, as part of the rotating 6 months mission of the NATO countries taking part in the operations.
Click on the audio icon to listen to the report by Agnieszka Bielawska.