Warsaw - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown met with his Polish counterpart Tuesday on cooperation between their missions in Afghanistan , and commended Poland's role in the conflict amid a recent increase in Polish forces. Brown said Poland's mission of 1,600 soldiers made it one of the strongest contributors in the region, and said security was needed amid the upcoming Afghan presidential polls slated in August 20.

Poland announced last month it would add 400 soldiers by mid-April to its troops in the war-torn nation. The country said it would keep the NATO mission a priority despite budget cuts that ended missions in Chad, Lebanon and the Golan Heights.

"Poland is making a great effort," Tusk said Tuesday, with a decision to add soldiers that "isn't easy for organizational, financial and political reasons." Tusk said he counted a new NATO strategy against the Taliban would "bring peace and rebuilding."

Poland will up its efforts to help civilians, like rebuilding schools and training police, Tusk added.

Brown was also slated Tuesday to meet with Polish President Lech Kaczynski, and was to later visit the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz.

Brown's visit to Poland came after a recent trip to Afghanistan, where he pledged "strong support" for the elections and said his troops would ensure security for the polls along with NATO allies.(dpa)