Poland’s 1,200 troops have begun arriving in Afghanistan to replace the same number of soldiers that recently returned to Poland, media said.

Polish Army Gen. Jerzy Biziewski, in charge of the new contingent, said he is impressed with the work done by Poland’s first contingent that just flew home, Polish Radio reported Thursday.

Biziewski, inspecting Polish barracks in the Bagram military base in Afghanistan, told the national radio the first contingent did most of the hard work. He said among main goals of the second contingent would be improving relations between Polish soldiers and the local people.

Afghan civilians have been cautious and it would take us some time to establish closer relations with them, Biziewski said.

In February, Poland completed dispatching a 1,200-strong contingent to Afghanistan to join NATO troops battling Taliban and al-Qaida insurgents. // Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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