Afghanistan Conflict Monitor

Poland To Boost Afghan Troops By 20 Percent

'Poland To Boost Afghan Troops By 20 Percent', AFP, 8 April 2009

EXCERPT: "Poland will boost its military deployment to Afghanistan by 20 percent to help secure elections in August and combat deteriorating security, Polish President Lech Kaczynski said Wednesday. Kaczynski was in Kabul on an unannounced visit to meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai and some of the 1,600 Polish troops serving in the NATO-led force that is helping to fight an insurgency waged by Al-Qaeda-linked extremists. Poland, a member of NATO, said last month it planned to send 400 more troops to Afghanistan by mid-April, partly to help secure the August presidential election, but the decision was awaiting a final go-ahead from the president. Kaczynski's announcement Wednesday of a 20 percent boost in numbers would mean an extra 320 soldiers. Kaczynski said the troops were also necessary because of 'deteriorating' security in the eastern province of Ghazni, where Polish soldiers are working with their US counterparts. The president was due in Ghazni after talks with Karzai on a one-day trip to Afghanistan, his first to the strife-torn nation."

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See also:
'President Kaczynski in Afghanistan', TheNews, 8 April 2009
'Europe to contribute 5,000 extra troops to Afghanistan', The Guardian, 4 April 2009
'Poland to strengthen military mission in Afghanistan', RTT News, 24 March 2009

Related posts:
'Polish troops take charge of Ghazni', 30 October 2008
'Polish troops have to adjust tactics', 21 August 2008
'Poland to deploy more troops in Afghanistan', 4 June 2008
'Polish officers and pilots reluctant to serve in Afghanistan', 6 May 2008

Protests Over "Mosque Raid"

'Protests Over "Mosque Raid"', Al Jazeera, 27 February 2009

EXCERPT: "Hundreds of protesters have clashed with police in southern Afghanistan amid claims international forces opened fire inside a mosque and copies of the Quran were ripped up. Rocks were thrown at police and at least three demonstrators were wounded by gunfire after about 500 people demonstrated in Ghazni on Friday, said Mohammad Zaman, the province's police chief. The protest came a day after Polish troops were accused of shooting their weapons inside the mosque in Dhi Khodaidad village and beating local residents. One of the protesters told the Associated Press that he was in the mosque when troops entered and opened fire, although no-one was injured. Government officials will meet with Polish forces on Saturday to find out if they were involved, he said."

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See also:
'Amnesty urges prosecution of troops for Afghan abuses', Reuters India, 27 February 2009
'Afghanistan's defense minister warns against US pullback', Los Angeles Times, 27 February 2009
'Afghanistan troop surge costly', Global Post, 26 February 2009
'Growing public hostility to troops may hurt US surge plans', The Washington Post, 22 February 2009

Related posts:
'Afghan insurgency inspiring new fighters: Analysts', 13 January 2009
'"Foreign forces fuel Afghan extremism"', 23 December 2008
'Afghanistan say to decide how long NATO troops stay', 20 May 2008
'Polish soldiers charged with murdering Afghan civilians', 15 November 2007
'Majority of Afghans want NATO troops to stay: Poll', 18 October 2007

Polish Troops Take Charge Of Ghazni

'Polish Troops Take Charge Of Tough Afghan Province', AlertNet, 30 October 2008

EXCERPT: "Polish troops took command of security in the Afghan province of Ghazni on Thursday, a volatile area just two hour's drive southwest of Kabul where Taliban militants are gaining influence. About 1,600 Polish troops have now taken control of Ghazni, freeing up U.S. forces to take on Taliban militants elsewhere in the eastern sector which includes the porous Pakistani border from where insurgents infiltrate into Afghanistan. 'Poland is taking over responsibility for security and development as well as future prosperity of Ghazni province. We are ready to do it and we are dedicated to do it well for the benefit of out hosts,' Polish Defence Minister Bogdan Klich told troops at the change of command ceremony. The United States has made repeated appeals for its NATO allies to send more troops to Afghanistan and allow those there to engage in combat missions without restrictions that some European nations place on their soldiers. Poland and France have made the most significant response, with Polish troops agreeing to take responsibility for Ghazni and Paris sending 700 extra French troops to a valley in the east which is a stronghold of Taliban allies. Both France and Poland place no restrictions on their troops in the east."

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See also:
'German legislators boost Afghan troops', Washington Post, 30 October 2008
'Will more US troops really help in Afghanistan?', TIME, 29 October 2008
'Taliban proves resilient foe in Afghanistan', PBS Newshour, 29 October 2008
'NATO's Afghan forces "hit limit"', BBC News, 28 October 2008

Related posts:
'NATO political will "wavering" in Afghanistan', 20 October 2008
'NATO cannot be in Afghanistan forever: Canada's PM', 3 October 2008
'Polish troops have to adjust tactics', 21 August 2008
'Taliban capture Nawah district in central Afghanistan', 15 August 2008

Pleas For Better Equipment And Swifter Procedures

'PM In Afghanistan: Pleas For Better Equipment And Swifter Procedures', Gazeta Wyborcza, 25 August 2008

EXCERPT: "The unplanned visit took place following Mr Tusk's meeting Thursday evening with Defence Minister Bogdan Klich. On the previous day, three Polish soldiers died after their Humvee hit a booby trap. That's why the PM wanted to find out about the situation on the ground. He left Poland Friday afternoon and returned Saturday. 'I met real men', Mr Tusk said following his visit to Sharan base. 'But they seem to have the worst possible equipment, and even poorer procedures that need to be immediately improved', he added. What the soldiers are asking for in the first place are more Rosomak armoured personnel carriers (APCs). The whole deployment, counting over 1,400 personnel, has at its disposal just thirty of those, including five medevac ones. The problem with the shortage of APCs began back when the Defence Ministry was headed by Aleksander Szczygło (PiS). According to a report drawn up by Antoni Macierewicz, then head of the military counterintelligence, the vehicle did not meet official army requirements because its armour-plating was too thin. That's why less Rosomaks were sent than were needed, and those that were actually sent were initially supposed to remain at the base."

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See also:
'Poland investigating CIA prisons allegations', International Herald Tribune, 25 August 2008
'"Useless" Army radio system will cost lives, warns Scottish commander', Daily Record, 25 August 2008
'NATO vehicles set on fire in Karachi', DAWN, 25 August 2008
'NATO not ready for prime time', The Strategy Page, 23 August 2008

Related posts:
'Polish troops have to adjust tactics', 21 August 2008
'Poland to deploy more troops in Afghanistan', 4 June 2008
'Polish officers and pilots reluctant to serve in Afghanistan', 6 May 2008

Polish Troops Have To Adjust Tactics

'Polish Troops Have To Adjust Tactics In Afghanistan', The News, 21 August 2008

EXCERPT: "Minister of Defence Bogdan Klich said today that Polish troops in Afghanistan have to adjust their tactics after three Polish soldiers were killed in Afghanistan yesterday [20 August 2008]. Klich stressed during a teleconference with the commanders of the Polish contingent at the Operational Command of the Armed Forces that the situation in Afghanistan has worsened and the country has destabilized, especially in the east and south. The minister said that the new tactics of the Polish soldiers should include full control of the main communication routes, such as the Kabul-Kandahar road. Klich said that only this can prevent tragedies like the one yesterday from happening in future. Bogdan Klich stressed that the ministry will try to supply the soldiers with better equipment. Five new Patria Armored Modular Vehicles have been already sent to Afghanistan and 15 more are to arrive by the end of September."

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See also:
'Afghanistan: Rethinking NATO's approach', ISN Security Watch, 21 August 2008
'Three Poles killed, one wounded in Afghanistan', The News, 20 August 2008
'Poland: Working together for democracy', Embassy, 20 August 2008
'NATO's many battlefields', Middle East Times, 20 August 2008

Related posts:
'Poland to deploy more troops in Afghanistan', 4 June 2008
'Polish officers and pilots reluctant to serve in Afghanistan', 6 May 2008
'Afghanistan remains NATO most important operation', 28 April 2008
'Poland plans to send more troops to Afghanistan', 20 March 2008

Poland To Deploy More Troops In Afghanistan

'Poland To Deploy More Troops In Afghanistan', Al Jazeera, 4 June 2008

EXCERPT: "Radoslaw Sikorski, Poland's foreign minister, has said Warsaw will increase its troops deployment in Afghanistan and take over security in Ghazni province. Sikorski said: 'Poland supports Afghanistan in its quest to establish stable democratic government, and we are prepared to play our part also practically and materially in this process.' Poland has about 1,200 troops in Afghanistan and Sikorski, who was speaking during a visit to the Afghan capital Kabul on Wednesday, said another 400 would be sent soon. Polish troops will also continue to train Afghan armed forces, while they will be charged with security along a 300km stretch of road between the capital Kabul and Kandahar."

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Related posts:
'Polish officers and pilots reluctant to serve in Afghanistan', 6 May 2008
'Jordan commits troops, Poland helicopters to Afghanistan', 7 December 2007

Three Polish Soldiers Accused Of Unlawful Killing Of Civilians Released

'Three Polish Soldiers Accused Of Unlawful Killing Of Civilians In Afghanistan Released', The News / Polskie Radio, 12 May 2008

EXCERPT: "On Friday the military court in Warsaw decided to release privates first class Robert B., Damian L. and Jacek J. charged in the Nangar Khle civilians' killings case. Employees of the prison are now waiting for the mailman to deliver the court's decision and the release order. The incident in the Afghan village of Nangar Khel, Paktika Province occurred on 16 August, when the Polish patrol carried out a mortar attack killing civilians, including women and children. As a result, seven soldiers were arrested and are now on trial, six of them charged with unlawful killing of civilians, facing up to 12 years in prison, and one with attacking unprotected civilian property, for which the strictest punishment is 25 years imprisonment."

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Polish Officers And Pilots Reluctant To Serve In Afghanistan

'Polish Officers And Pilots Reluctant To Serve In Afghanistan', Warsaw Business Journal, 6 May 2008

EXCERPT: "The latest group of soldiers left for the mission in Afghanistan and this marks the third shift of the Polish troops in that country. Within several weeks they will be joined by the rest of the contingent, which will total 1,600 soldiers. However, this time authorities had problems putting together the contingent as many officers did not want to become commanders, while pilots sought to avoid missions flying over Afghan mountains."

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Related posts:
'Poland joins Canada in call for more troops in Afghanistan', 5 February 2008
'Poland will not reduce troops in Afghanistan', 20 November 2007

Afghanistan Remains NATO Most Important Operation

'Afghanistan Remains NATO Most Important Operation', International News Network Pakistan, 28 April 2008

EXCERPT: "Afghanistan remains one of the most important operations of NATO and this was reflected in the NATO summit in Bucharest early this month wherein its member nations pledged more support for this war-torn country, top US officials have said. Testifying before a Congressional Committee this week Daniel Fried, Acting under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and Daniel Fata, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy listed out the accomplishments at the NATO summit from the perspective of Afghanistan. 'Afghanistan remains NATO’s most important operation. NATO highlighted this issue as never before. US Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Afghan President Karzai, representatives from the EU, Japan, Australia, and the World Bank joined NATO leaders and 14 other non-NATO partners that comprise ISAF,' Fried said.

"Referring to the NATO vision statement gave long-term commitment to support the Afghan government and people, he said it also welcomed the appointment of the new UN special representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Kai Eide of Norway, whose mission is to bring greater coherence to international civilian efforts and to improve coordination with NATO and the Afghan government. 'Many allies backed up this commitment with deeds. President Sarkozy (of France) announced the deployment of a French combat battalion to eastern Afghanistan. With further, US, Polish, Georgian, Czech, and other contributions, this brings the total of new troops and trainers in 2008 to 6,000,' he said. At the same time, challenges remain, he observed. 'Be sure challenges remain in Afghanistan. Violence is up, particularly in the south where the vast bulk of opium poppies are grown. NATO allies and the United States are still learning how to do counter-insurgency right.'"

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Troop Pledges By Allies Fall Short

'Troop Pledges By Allies Fall Short', USA Today, 21 April 2008

EXCERPT: "The Bush administration's effort to get NATO allies to send new combat forces to Afghanistan has produced pledges from six countries for about 2,000 troops, far less than the 7,000 to 8,000 troops that NATO commanders say are needed. The reinforcements — heralded by White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley at NATO's recent summit with the words 'help is on the way' — include some that were promised long ago and others that require parliamentary approval. For example, it includes 400 pledged by Poland last year and 120 that need approval from the Czech Republic's Parliament. The bulk — 700 from France and 500 from the former Soviet republic of Georgia, an aspiring NATO member — also was announced before the NATO summit this month in Bucharest, Romania. By far the biggest commitment at Bucharest came from the United States, which is adding 3,500 Marines to its 31,000 troops now in Afghanistan."

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See also:
'Croatia will enhance NATO's strength', Canada.com / The Ottawa Citizen, 21 April 2008
'France to deploy new Afghanistan force by August', Reuters, 21 April 2008
'US General: Army needs "stop-loss" until late 2009', Associated Press, 21 April 2008