Warsaw - Poland is to increase its troop numbers in Afghanistan to 2,000 ahead of the troubled country's presidential elections, it was announced Friday. Poland currently has 1,600 soldiers in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Polish President Lech Kaczynski has approved the request by his government for the additional forces, Defence Minister Bogdan Klich said on Friday in Krakow.

Those extra 400 troops should be in Afghanistan by mid-April, with a further "strategic reserve" of 200 men stationed in Poland for future deployment in Afghanistan if the need arises.

Warsaw is concerned that forthcoming presidential elections in Afghanistan due for August will see a rise in Taliban attacks, especially in the Polish-patrolled southern province of Ghazni.(dpa)