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Summary
- Canada’s engagement in Afghanistan centred on building Afghan capacity in the face of ongoing insurgent violence. While Canadian priorities were largely concentrated in Kandahar, Canada was active at the national level with respect to military support, development and diplomacy.
- Canadian Task Force Kandahar reinforced its counterinsurgency leadership role, with a new area of operations concentrated on Kandahar City and surrounding districts, and gained command of an additional U.S. infantry battalion. Operation Kalay continued to move forward, providing enduring security and quick impact projects for numerous villages through a series of counterinsurgency operations.
- The Afghan National Army continued to demonstrate its ability to plan and execute security initiatives, and Canada helped to address issues of recruitment and retention within the Afghan National Security Forces.
- Canada advanced its education signature initiative, completing two more schools and continuing the construction of 28 more while playing a major role in the country’s education sector, including by providing literacy training to 23,500 Kandaharis and vocational training to more than 4,150 Kandaharis to date, exceeding established targets.
- The rehabilitation of the Dahla Dam and irrigation system—Canada’s second signature project—also progressed on schedule with preparation for dry season work and consultations with Afghan professionals.
- Canada’s third signature project—eradicating polio—continued to be implemented this quarter. Two national campaigns reached some 95 percent of a targeted seven million children.
- Canada supported Afghan agricultural production and alternative crops by distributing wheat seeds to 7,725 Afghan farmers, and assisted with several national-level economic initiatives.
- Canadian funding helped clear more than 52,000 land mines and provided mine risk education to 40,000 individuals in Kandahar—the latter achieving Canada’s target. The number of land mine victims in Afghanistan dropped to its lowest point in the past 10 years.
- Canada continued to support Afghan and Pakistani efforts to improve security along their border, by facilitating joint meetings on modern border management. Canada played a key role in developing the curriculum for the new Afghan National Customs Academy, opening in January 2010.
- Canada also continued to assist the Afghan administration’s efforts against corruption, funding anti-corruption activities and providing expertise to Afghan ministries.
