1. Introduction
Building Afghanistan’s capacity to provide basic services to its citizens—this ranks among the most urgent priorities of Canada’s Afghan engagement. And progress has been achieved, even amid the violence and disorder of war. In this quarter, with Canada’s help, another school opened in Kandahar. New businesses started, creating new jobs. Work on the Dahla Dam and irrigation project gathered speed. Construction of a major new obstetrical unit in Kandahar City was completed. Thousands of Kandahar farmers received wheat seeds and fertilizer, improving rural livelihoods and food security in the province. These and other Canadian-supported endeavours are strengthening the abilities of Afghan institutions to deliver core services to the public—and promoting a stronger Afghan confidence in their own elected government.
Canadians are advancing this and other priorities despite the continuing insurgency in Afghanistan. Violence, particularly in Kandahar and other southern provinces, persisted at increased levels during the quarter. Throughout Afghanistan, civilian and military casualties reached numbers higher than in any previous autumn quarter since the removal of the Taliban regime in 2001.
The deterioration of security conditions through 2008, and the geographic spread and intensification of the insurgency, underlined the pressing importance of another Canadian priority: enabling the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) to sustain a more secure environment and promote law and order. Supported by Canadian training and mentoring, ANSF units demonstrated an increased ability to lead and conduct operations independently.
At the same time, the Canadian Forces themselves continued combat against the insurgency—almost always partnered with ANSF soldiers or police. As ANSF and Canadian troops expandedcounter-insurgency efforts in Kandahar, they exerted more pressure on insurgent networks, disrupted cells responsible for building and planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and thwarted numerous insurgent attacks. Military and civilian casualties reflected this higher tempo of operations as well as attacks by insurgents. For members of the Canadian Forces, the deaths of nine soldiers (after three months without fatalities) made December the deadliest month of 2008.
On March 13, 2008, the House of Commons passed a motion calling for an extension of the Canadian military presence in Kandahar to July 2011. The House attached three critical conditions to this extension: the securing of an additional battle group (about 1,000 soldiers) from a partner country to deploy in Kandahar by February 2009; the acquisition of medium-lift helicopters and high-performance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by February 2009; and notification to allies in NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) that Canada will end its military presence in Kandahar as of July 2011, and complete the departure of Canadian Forces troops by December 2011.
These conditions are being met on schedule. A U.S. Army battalion has deployed to Kandahar; these additional 1,000 troops doubled the total of coalition combat forces in the province. More U.S. reinforcements are expected in Afghanistan in 2009. The Canadian Forces have acquired and deployed the prescribed helicopters and UAVs to Kandahar. And NATO allies have been notified that Canada will end its military presence in 2011.
As well, Canada continues to increase investments in the improvement of governance and the acceleration of development in Afghanistan. More development specialists, diplomats, police and other civilians were posted to Kandahar and Kabul in the quarter. Our efforts are being coordinated in a coherent set of priorities, described in the following pages. Progress is being tracked and reported to Parliament and Canadians against an array of explicit benchmarks—all presented in these quarterly reports.
Progress will not come quickly. Afghanistan is a poor country at war against a determined and resourceful insurgency. Its full transition to a more secure and stable society will take decades. Nor can Canada control most of the forces at work in Afghanistan. Afghans themselves are caught up in a complicated interaction of tribal, ideological, economic and regional conflicts, and Canada is one of many countries trying to contribute to improvements in Afghanistan’s security, governance and development. Nevertheless, we can achieve the best effects possible—and help improve the future for Afghans—with a disciplined and accountable implementation of Canada’s own engagement.
This quarterly report addresses Canada’s engagement from October 1 to December 31, 2008. The next report will cover the quarter ending March 31, 2009.
