Warsaw  - Polish Defence Minister Bogdan Klich confirmed on Friday that his country will take over responsibility for the southern Afghan province of Ghazni, the PAP news agency reported.

The Polish contingent, composed of 1,600 troops armed with eight helicopters, is now concentrated in three different provinces in Afghanistan's south.

According to Klich, Poland is taking up a more visible presence in Afghanistan, thus helping to secure Poland's interests in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and to reach the Polish goals on the world stage.

The security of the soldiers will be increased by the move, Klich added.

In the past months, there have been repeated criticism in Warsaw concerning Polish units' being under US command. The principal role of Polish troops have been the protection of prime Kabul to Kandahar roadway.

Klich said that Poland had the choice between the provinces Ghazni and Paktika. The latter province, due to its location on the border with Pakistan was too dangerous, he said. (dpa)