Archived Document
Quarterly Report
Executive Summary
Canada is in Afghanistan at the request of the country’s democratically elected government and in accordance with UN resolutions authorizing a NATO-led multinational security force. The Afghan people are rebuilding their nation after a generation of progress was lost to decades of Soviet occupation, civil war, drought and the brutal rule of the Taliban.
Originally focused on stabilizing Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, and its surrounding region, the NATO-led security mission in 2006 was expanded to the rest of the country, and Canada took the lead in the southern province of Kandahar. And now, acting on the recommendations of the Independent Panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan and the House of Commons motion of March 13, 2008, the Government has begun the transformation of our engagement there.
We have established mission priorities for the period of 2008–11. Diplomatic, development and security operations are being revised and coordinated more closely and concentrated in Kandahar for strongest effect. The Cabinet Committee on Afghanistan is leading this renewal, while Parliament has created a special committee on Afghanistan, which meets regularly. As well, the Government is providing frequent reporting on events in Afghanistan and Canadian efforts there.
The House of Commons, in its motion, called on the Government to table quarterly reports in Parliament on our mission in Afghanistan. Accordingly, this first report introduces the Government’s policy priorities and sets out explicit Canadian objectives. At the same time, we are preparing specific benchmarks that will allow Parliament and Canadians to assess progress. These benchmarks will be presented in next fall’s quarterly report, and subsequent reports will regularly measure progress against them.
The Government has identified six priorities defining Canada’s engagement. The first four priorities focus primarily on Kandahar:
1. Enable the Afghan National Security Forces in Kandahar to sustain a more secure environment and promote law and order.
2. Strengthen Afghan institutional capacity to deliver core services and promote economic growth, enhancing the confidence of Kandaharis in their government.
3. Provide humanitarian assistance for extremely vulnerable people, including refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons.
4. Enhance border security, with facilitation of bilateral dialogue between Afghan and Pakistani authorities.
These Kandahar-centred priorities will be reinforced by two priorities to be pursued at the national level:
5. Help advance Afghanistan’s capacity for democratic governance by contributing to effective, accountable public institutions and electoral processes.
6. Facilitate Afghan-led efforts toward political reconciliation.
Prominent among Canadian activities will be three “signature projects.” As we progress in our efforts, Canadian contributions will significantly benefit the people of Kandahar with a shift from 17 percent to 50 percent of programming focused in the province. These efforts will be highlighted with three Canadian signature projects. In the first, Canada will support rehabilitation of the Dahla Dam and its irrigation and canal system, generating jobs and fostering agriculture. The second signature project involves the construction of 50 schools. Through the third signature project, Canada will expand support for polio immunization, with the aim to eradicate polio in Afghanistan by the end of 2009.
Canada alone cannot sustain security and progress in development in Afghanistan, a country struggling against a violent and tenacious insurgency. Afghan governance is weak and, despite development progress, Afghanistan remains one of the world’s poorest countries. But we are participating in a large international partnership in support of an elected Afghan government under a UN mandate. By setting realistic goals, reporting results and adapting to changing circumstances, our objective is to make measurable progress in contributing to Afghanistan’s security, governance and development.
