Bulgaria should keep the mission in Afghanistan a top priority of its foreign policy due to the tense and complicated state of affairs there, the defence minister said after returning from Kabul.

Minister Bliznakov plans Bulgarian troops to remain deployed in Afghanistan another three or five years, when he expects local authorities and police to get stronger and take it all into their own hands, Darik News reported.

Asked whether Bulgaria's unit in Afghanistan will be expanded, the minister said no political decision has been taken to this effect.

At present the country has about 500 soldiers in international missions but reports say this number may increase in 2007.

The Bulgarian delegation landed at a surprising visit to Kabul Airport on Saturday to donate school equipment to the children at two schools here.

Vesselin Bliznakov and General Zlatan Stoykov conferred with ISAF high-ranking officials opportunities for sending another 100 troops to the Alliance's forces in Afghanistan.

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