Warsaw - Poland plans to strengthen its mission in Afghanistan and create a new "strategic reserve" force ready for deployment there at anytime, Defence Minister Bogdan Klich said on Wednesday.

The government could boost Poland's contingent in Afghanistan in April or May, Klich said, and is already working on a proposal for the president. Klich said it will be discussed how many troops will be added, with the president having the final word.

Poland currently has some 1,600 soldiers in Afghanistan. Any announcement of extra troops could well coincide with NATO's planned 60th anniversary conference at the start of April.

The Ministry of National Defence announced last month it would end its missions in Chad, Lebanon and the Golan Heights as part of government budget cuts made amid gloomy economic forecasts for 2009.

Klich said NATO missions - like Afghanistan and Kosovo - will remain an "absolute priority." (dpa)