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Summary
- Canada continued to achieve progress on its key objectives and signature projects in this quarter. Our development work in Afghanistan reflects Canada’s overarching development objective: to build the capacity of Afghan institutions to deliver sustainable results to benefit the Afghan people.
- Canada’s first signature project, the rehabilitation of the Dahla Dam and irrigation system, continued to advance with the removal of 85,000 cubic metres of silt and other materials from the main canal, improving downstream water flow to farmers.
- Canada progressed on its second signature project, to build, repair or refurbish 50 schools in key districts of Kandahar by 2011: an additional two schools were completed, bringing the total to 16, while another 27 schools are under construction.
- Canada continued to implement its third signature project, focused on the eradication of polio. In this quarter, an estimated 390,000 and 397,000 children in Kandahar were reached and vaccinated against the disease, through campaigns in February and March respectively.
- Canada’s Task Force Kandahar continued to conduct counterinsurgency operations in and around Kandahar City; focused on security, village-by-village, forces under Canadian control provided enduring security in 29 different communities in Kandahar province at the end of the quarter.
- The Afghan National Army (ANA) increased its capacity to conduct operations. A third ANA kandak (or battalion) was rated at a level to conduct near-autonomous operations. Canada continued to develop training and mentoring initiatives for the Afghan National Police (ANP), further enabled by the increased presence of U.S. resources.
- The increased presence of U.S. military forces was evident through Operation Moshtarak in Helmand province, which involved Afghan, U.S. marine and U.K. battalions, and supporting troops from Canada and other partner countries.
- Canada completed two target objectives in support of stronger security at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border: (i) mechanisms are now in place at the border for regular and substantive dialogue, and (ii) a new border facility at Spin Boldak was completed.
- Under Canada’s presidency, G8 foreign ministers launched the Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Region Prosperity Initiative, which will facilitate progress on border infrastructure projects and strengthen regional cooperation.
- The new Afghan National Customs Academy opened in January, with Canadian personnel serving as Deputy Dean and Senior Trainer. The first class of 48 customs officers graduated from the academy in mid-March.
