II. The Quarterly Context

In this quarter, the 43-nation International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) —which includes 2,800 largely Kandahar-based Canadian Forces—increased by approximately 5,000 soldiers to reach 112,000, up from a force strength of 51,000 last year. ISAF and the Afghan National Security Forces continued to carry out operations and implement counterinsurgency activities, supported by a new ISAF Joint Command Headquarters that is dedicated to implementing a comprehensive and coordinated counterinsurgency and support for Afghan governance and development.

In mid-December, Canada 's Task Force Kandahar assumed command of a third American battalion deployed to Kandahar , a reflection of the mutual trust and interdependence of our two countries' engagement in Afghanistan . The task force retained responsibility for conducting counterinsurgency operations in critically important Kandahar City and the heavily populated surrounding districts, and the area of responsibility for the Canadian Forces was reconfigured to a smaller range of territory, but now includes the key district of Arghandab. This concentration of forces will enhance our whole-of-government efforts to provide security and support in and around Kandahar City .

Operation Kalay (Pashto for “village”) stabilization operations also continued to move forward, providing protection, increased employment opportunities and quick impact projects for Afghans living in a number of villages in the Panjwayi and Dand districts of Kandahar province. Employing all of Task Force Kandahar's combat forces, this approach underscores the fact that civilian-led development and governance activities can take place and be maintained only with the establishment of sufficient security. This strategy has been adopted by NATO in other regions of Afghanistan and is another example of the national impact of Canada 's efforts to improve the lives of the Afghan people.

In this quarter, however, the security environment for Canadian military and civilian operations continued to be impeded by a dangerous and patient insurgency that seeks destabilization through the constant threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and targeted suicide attacks, underscored with a campaign of intimidation in local communities and projects employing Afghans. The October insurgent attack on a UN guest house in Kabul that killed and wounded several Afghans, UN employees and international security personnel was a tragic illustration of an insurgency that is ever present.

For Canadians, no events were more tragic than those that took the lives of eight Canadians in four separate IED incidents, two in October and two in December.