Five Polish soldiers die in Afghanistan after Taliban attack

Polish M-ATV all-terrain vehicle: photo - Jarek Tuszynski/Wikimedia Commons

The deaths occurred when a M-ATV all-terrain vehicle drove over a mine in the Rawza district, part of the Ghazni province that Polish forces are responsible for.

The vehicle was “completely destroyed” in the explosion, say the AFP and PAP news agencies.

“This is a great tragedy and very sad news for the Polish military, for the whole of Poland and above all for the families of the victims,” Prime Minister Donald Tusk said after he received the news, Wednesday morning.

Tusk added that flags would be flying at half-mast at all Polish military units.

"The attack took place around 10.30 CET in the Ghazni province, on the main road designated as Highway 1,” says military spokesman Lt. Col. Mirosław Ochyra.

The troops were from the 20th Bartoszycka Mechanized Brigade, based in the north east of Poland.

AFP reports that the Taliban has already claimed responsibility for the attack.

The vehicle was part of a 6-strong convoy on its way to the opening of a mausoleum, which had been created as one of the projects funded by the so-called PRT unit which the soldiers were part of, mainly working on reconstruction projects in the country.

PM Tusk said that more details of who had been killed would be given once the families concerned had been contacted.

He added that the tragedy “was all the more sad as it comes just before Christmas. It will be a sad Christmas for the Polish military and for all of us.”

The Polish death toll in Afghanistan is now 36, including 35 soldiers.

Over 500 NATO service members have been killed in Afghanistan this year alone.

At present, 2600 Polish military personnel are serving in Afghanistan, and 400 troops are on reserve in Poland. President Bronislaw Komorowski has said that the troops will be pulled out of the country in 2014. (pg/nh)