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Summary
- Security conditions in Afghanistan remained especially dangerous and by some measures deteriorated during the quarter.
- The humanitarian situation worsened in Afghanistan, and the international community assisted Afghan communities (particularly in the northern provinces) to prepare for severe winter conditions and food shortages.
- Important progress was nonetheless achieved in priority areas of Canada’s engagement.
- With Canadian support, capabilities of Afghan National Security Forces in Kandahar province improved. The Afghan National Army Brigade Headquarters in Kandahar reached “capability milestone 1”—meaning it was fully capable of near-autonomous operations with some help from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). There was more public reporting of insurgent improvised explosive devices to authorities, suggesting a heightened readiness among Kandaharis to act in defence of their own security.
- Major repairs were made to Kandahar City’s Sarpoza prison—site of an insurgent attack last June. The prison is now assessed more secure than before the attack. Almost all Sarpoza prison staff have completed the first phase of basic training.
- Rehabilitation of the Dahla Dam and irrigation system—a Canadian signature project—continued with preparatory construction. Two Canadian firms, SNC-Lavalin and Hydrosult, were selected to manage the three-year rehabilitation project.
- In school rehabilitation—another signature project—one school was completed during the quarter, bringing the total to three. Another 22 were under construction. Canada aims to help build, expand or repair 50 schools in key districts by 2011.
- Canada continued to support Afghanistan’s national polio vaccination program, a third Canadian signature project. About 7.1 million children were vaccinated during this quarter, though the total number of cases still increased.
- Canadian Forces officers facilitated Afghan-Pakistani dialogue on border security, arranging a “border flag” meeting with Afghan, Pakistani and ISAF officers.
- Canadians helped Afghans prepare for 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.
- Canada’s Embassy in Kabul encouraged Afghan-led efforts toward political reconciliation.
- Provisions of the March 13, 2008, House of Commons motion on Canada’s Afghan engagement are being met on schedule: a U.S. Army battalion has deployed to Kandahar; the Canadian Forces have acquired and deployed helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Kandahar; and our allies have been informed that Canada’s military presence in Kandahar will end in 2011.
