Polish soldier killed in Afghanistan

Former Taliban militants attend a ceremony during which they surrender arms under a US-backed Afghan government amnesty program, in Karukh district of Herat Province, Afghanistan, 19 March 2013. Photo: EPA/Jalil Rezayee

The incident occurred at 9 am Polish time, as Ordynski was driving an ostensibly Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle (MRAP) on a routine patrol north west of the city of Ghazni.

Another Polish soldier was injured in the explosion, and he has been flown by helicopter to a hospital at the NATO base in Ghazni. His condition is stable.

Senior Private Ordynski, who was 29, had served in both the Balkans and Afghanistan. He had been a driver for the 12th Mechanised Brigade since 2004, and this was his fourth mission.

He is survived by a son.

Polish forces have been part of the NATO mission to Afghanistan since 2002, just months after the Taliban regime was compelled to abandon the capital, Kabul, in November 2001, under heavy attack from American forces.

The 39 Polish casualties include one medic.

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is timetabled to cease all combat operations by the end of 2014.

After that, Poland expects to be involved exclusively in a training capacity.

Meanwhile, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been making repeated statements that foreign troops are no longer needed to protect the country, and he has urged NATO forces to withdraw quickly. (nh)

Source: IAR/wp.mil.pl