Summary
- Canada achieved progress toward priority objectives during the quarter, in the context of continuing counter-insurgency warfare and severe humanitarian conditions.
- With training and mentoring by the Canadian Forces, Afghan National Army units in Kandahar showed marked improvement. Brigade Headquarters and one battalion maintained the highest capability milestone. Four other battalions have reached the second highest milestone.
- Mentored by Canadian civilian police and supported by the Canadian Forces, Afghan National Police in Kandahar improved their performance. A police literacy project was launched, and police facilities were upgraded. In Kandahar City’s Sarpoza prison, Canadian corrections officers directed literacy and management training.
- Justice officials in Kandahar completed criminal law workshops focused on roles and responsibilities of prosecutors, judges, lawyers, police and corrections officials.
- Canada announced a contribution of more than $21 million to strengthen the rule of law. Most of that will go to the United Nations Development Programme’s Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan, the main instrument for paying police and prison-service salaries.
- Rehabilitation of the Dahla Dam and irrigation system, a Canadian signature project, advanced with the completion of a new bridge and an inception mission by the Canadian contractors.
- School rehabilitation, another signature project, progressed with the completion of two more schools in the quarter, for a total of five; 25 more were under construction.
- The third Canadian signature project, polio eradication, continued with vaccination of more than 350,000 Kandahar children in campaigns led by UN agencies, though many children were missed as a result of insecurity in some areas.
- Canada augmented support for humanitarian activity with a $14 million contribution to UN and other organizations. High food prices, drought and malnutrition, along with violent conflict, afflict millions of Afghans. Insurgent violence prevented aid workers from reaching some communities most in need.
- Canada brought together Afghan and Pakistani officials in Dubai where they adopted an unprecedented joint border management plan.
- Some 4.4 million Afghans completed voter registration for presidential and provincial council elections in August—a major event in building capacity for democratic governance.
