POLES SUPPORT AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY EXPANSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 001039 SIPDIS EUR/CE FOR MORRIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2018 TAGS: PREL MARR AF PL SUBJECT: POLES SUPPORT AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY EXPANSION REF: STATE 93225 Classified By: DCM QUANRUD. REASON 1.4 (D) ¶1. (C) Deputy Defense Minister Stanislaw Komorowski thanked DCM September 4 for reftel information about plans to increase the capabilities of the Afghan National Army, and expressed support for the effort. Komorowski reminded that Poland has been seeking to join the Joint Coordination Board. Post will be double-tracking with the MFA to pass on the same information about the planned upgrading of the ANA. ¶2. (C) COMMENT: Post strongly supports the Polish request to join the Joint Coordination Board. The Poles are augmenting their troop levels in Afghanistan from 1,200 to 1,600 and are just now starting internal discussions within military circles about the possibility of increasing levels further. Poland is also a leader in helping the U.S. convince reluctant Allies to remove caveats on the use of their troops in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister has recently become engaged on Afghanistan, traveling there after the deaths of three Polish soldiers two weeks ago as the result of a mine explosion. Our responsiveness to GoP requests like membership in the Coordination Board and enhanced equipment like armored vehicles will help the Polish Government maintain its forward-leaning role in Afghanistan. QUANRUD