As the insurgency in Afghanistan continues to put more pressure on NATO forces, the Ministry of Defence has announced additions to military hardware to improve troop safety.

The 2500-stiong Polish contingent is to receive an additional 51 armoured Rosomak vehicles, 10 medical support carriers as well as personal equipment for soldiers.

The so-called “Afghan Package” also includes two helicopters, scheduled to be on duty in Afghanistan by the end of the year. The choppers are equipped with the TERMA ground based air defense system.

Defense Minister Marcin Idzik said that the upgrade is to improve troop safety and is not at odds with announcements by Poland’s government and president-elect Bronislaw Komorowski to pull out of Afghanistan in two years time

‘The process of withdrawing Polish forces from Afghanistan is long term. It has to be precisely planned and coordinated with our [NATO} allies, [so] we have to equip our soldiers for this period to assure them full security,” Minister Idzik said Sunday.

Last week at an international conference in Kabul, Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said that the government’s intention to withdraw its troops did not mean an end to Poland’s involvement in the war-town country. “We’d like to withdraw by the end of 2012 but continue helping the Afghan nation in a different form,” he said.

NATO nations are urging the Afghan government to take over more responsibility for stabilising the country. US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton announced American troops would start a slow pull out in 12 months. “The July 2011 date captures both our sense of urgency and the strength of our resolve. The transition process is too important to push off indefinitely,” she said.

The Polish contingent is mostly based in the south eastern Ghazni province. Poland has had 19 military personnel killed in Afghanistan, with the death toll increasing markedly in June after a resurgent Taliban increased activity in the region. Last month was the deadliest for foreign troops since 2001, with more than 100 killed, with civilian deaths also rising. (pg/ab)

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