Poland Reveals 2012 Deadline for Afghan Exit (Coalition of the Leaving)

[tekisui]

Source: Financial Times

The likely victor of Poland’s forthcoming presidential election said the nation should pull its troops out of Afghanistan by 2012, adding to the list of nations readying early withdrawals from the Nato mission.

In a move that increases growing international unease over the future of the war, Bronislaw Komorowski, acting president, said Poland should inform its allies this autumn of the new deadline.

Two Nato nations – the Netherlands and Canada – have already committed to an early exit from Afghanistan. The Dutch are withdrawing in August and the Canadians plan to remove their combat troops by the middle of next year.

The US has urged other countries not to follow suit, insisting that the plan to support President Hamid Karzai’s government in Afghanistan must be given time to work.

But in a significant departure from previous Polish government policy, Mr Komorowksi said a deadline must be set for withdrawal of Poland’s 2,600 soldiers, the seventh largest national contingent in Nato.

“In general, we should aim to set a clear and prompt date for ending this mission and making the Afghan army responsible,” Mr Komorowski said in Warsaw.

“However, given that we may not succeed in this mission, I have also asked the government to work out a national strategy for pulling out. The year 2012 is the deadline when it comes to Poland’s presence in Afghanistan.”

more: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a5bd12d0-7fc7-11df-91b4-00144feabdc0.html