Benchmarks

Canada’s Engagement in Afghanistan - Quarterly Report to Parliament for the Period of January 1 to March 31, 2010

Priority 4: Border Security and Dialogue

To enhance border security, with facilitation of bilateral dialogue between Afghan and Pakistan authorities.

Canadian objective for 2011

By 2011, Canada expects that Afghan institutions, in cooperation with Pakistan, will exercise stronger capacity to manage the border and foster economic development in the border area.

Context

Border security and dialogue are ultimately contingent on strong relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and on the resolution of some longstanding issues. Canada’s benchmarks for this priority include qualitative and quantitative progress indicators to assess the effectiveness of Afghan and Pakistani border management efforts, including bilateral cooperation. As the border is long, its terrain difficult and its infrastructure underdeveloped, obtaining baseline information and establishing targets are challenging. Canada has already begun to work with the Afghan and Pakistani governments to identify infrastructure, training and other needs. This information will be essential to refining our baselines and targets in future.

 

Benchmarks

1. Regular discussions on border issues.

Progress Indicator: Increased dialogue between Pakistani and Afghan officials through mechanisms including Canadian-sponsored workshops.

Baseline: Three Canadian-sponsored workshops have been held to date. Key mechanisms for discussions were suspended by Afghanistan in July 2008 (August 2008).

2011 Target: Sustainable mechanisms for regular and substantive discussions across a broad array of issues are in place and operating for senior officials.

Quarterly Result: An informal meeting of the Dubai Process policy steering committee was held this quarter and planning is underway for the next Dubai Process meeting. Progress continues on the implementation of the Dubai Process Action Plan.

Progress Indicator: Increased cooperation at Kandahar-Baluchistan border.

Baseline: Regular Canadian-facilitated discussions at Kandahar-Baluchistan border are continuing.

2011 Target: Mechanisms at border in place for regular and substantive discussions across a broad array of issues.

Quarterly Result: TARGET ACHIEVED: The Border Flag Meetings (BFMs) that were established under Canadian stewardship as mechanisms for regular discussion have evolved into a new border cooperation mechanism, the Border Coordination Centre. Several meetings across a broad array of issues took place this quarter. Canadian Forces are no longer responsible for the district that includes the Kandahar-Baluchistan border.

2. Better managed border crossings on the Kandahar-Baluchistan border.

Progress Indicator: Training completed by border officials.

Baseline: No training provided to date (August 2008).

2011 Target: A tailored training curriculum for new recruits in international customs procedures and a senior management development program for Afghan Customs will be developed by September 2009. 

NEW: 150-200 Afghan Customs officials and 3 or 4 Afghan Customs trainers trained by 2011.

Quarterly Result: TRAINING CURRICULUM TARGET ACHIEVED: Personnel from the Canada Border Services Agency are implementing the curriculum at the National Customs Academy, along with Afghan and international partners.

During this quarter, the first 48 customs officials were trained.

Progress Indicator:  Key infrastructure projects completed, including procurement of equipment.

Baseline: Assessment of infrastructure needs not yet complete, some equipment purchases underway (August 2008).

2011 Target: Construction completed of a Joint District Coordination Centre in Spin Boldak. Infrastructure and equipment improvements completed at Weish border crossing in Kandahar, based on the results of a feasibility study to be completed in March 2009.

Quarterly Result: JDCC TARGET ACHIEVED: During this quarter, construction of the Joint District Coordination Centre was completed and the centre opened.

Discussion and coordination with key partners continued on the design and development of the Weish border facility project.