Poland’s defense minister said Wednesday that Warsaw, a major contributor of troops for the US-led occupation in Afghanistan, would roughly halve its contingent to 500 soldiers by May.

Poland's defense minister said Wednesday that Warsaw, a major contributor of troops for the US-led occupation in Afghanistan, would roughly halve its contingent to 500 soldiers by May.

Poland had previously planned to maintain 1,000 troops in Afghanistan until the end of the year as part of NATO Occupation Forces.

"In agreement with our allies, we have decided to speed up our withdrawal," Tomasz Siemoniak told reporters.

"All heavy equipment, such as armored vehicles and helicopters, will also return to Poland by May."

The bulk of NATO's remaining occupation troops in Afghanistan are due to pull out by the end of 2014.