Upping the ante

The deal should be sealed this week in talks with US Defense Secretary Robert Gates in Washington.

"[The] Americans know we would like to boost our mission's visibility in Afghanistan by taking responsibility for a province under the ISAF's [International Security Assistance Force] jurisdiction," Klich told Reuters in an interview. "My talks with Defense Secretary Gates would actually only aim to seal the proposal we have been made [by NATO in response to Polish requests]."

According to Polish officials, Poland is keen to assume responsibility for the eastern province of Paktika, on the border of Pakistan. The province is of strategic importance to both sides as the Taliban frequently mount attacks from across the porous border. At present, the greatest presence in the province is a US-led deployment in the town of Sharana.

Poland, as the largest ex-communist NATO member, has agreed to send 400 soldiers and desperately needed helicopters in April or May to join its existing contingent of 1,200 troops in the US-led operation against Taliban insurgents. (Reuters).