Canada in Afghanistan: Why It Matters

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www.afghanistan.gc.ca

Situating Afghanistan

A crossroads of empires through the centuries…

Rich History...             Wanton Destruction
Buddhist Monks 500 CE              Taliban 2001     

• Greek (350 BCE)

• Indian Buddhist (300 BCE)

• Persian/Iranian (200-600 CE)

• Arab Muslim (600-900)

• Mongol (1200-1500)

• Mughal & Persian (1500-1700)

• British Colonial Expansion (1840-1919)

Decades of turbulence.

Taliban Justice, Women's Rights
Kandahar Soccer Field - 2000

• 1973-79: Coups & Afghan communist government

• 1979-89: Soviet occupation & Afghan resistance

• 1992: Communist government falls

• 1994-96: Civil war

• 1996-2001: Taliban rule

• 2001: Fall of Taliban government

Afghanistan since 2001

Elected Government (2004)
President Karzai

• 2001: Formation of a new government

• 2001: UN Mandate, Afghan Compact

• 2003: NATO Mission

• 2004 & 05: Elections

• Today: Ongoing insurgency fed by porous border

• 2009: Presidential elections

• 2010: Parliamentary elections

Why UN/NATO/Canadian engagement matters

Socio-Economic Reality

• Population: 24 million
• Human Development Index Rank: 174 / 178
• Life expectancy: 43 years
• Infant mortality rate: 155/1,000, 3rd worst
• Literacy rate: male 32%, female 13%
• GDP /capita: $24/month ($290/year)
• 6.6 million Afghans malnourished

Why We’re There: Hope and help build a sovereign, viable country

• Basic security; lead shifting to Afghans
• Economic hope; infrastructure, training, education, health leading the way
• Basic human rights; focus on enfranchising women
• Basic rule of law; build viable institutions
• Better governance; focus on capacity building and corruption

Evolution of Canadian Military Engagement

As part of NATO Mission…

Increasing Civilian Engagement

Security + { Development + Training + Governance } = Integrated Approach

Integrated Canadian Engagement

Rapidly expanding DFAIT's presence in Kabul.

Elissa Golberg leads integrated team at Kandahar PRT.

DFAIT and CSC officers at a prison in Kandahar, dangerous but necessary work to build governance, institutions, integrity of system.

A challenge for military and civilians: mobility in Afghanistan

Commitment comes with a cost: Canadian Sacrifice

Kandahar Memorial to our Fallen. "Dedicated to those Canadians who gave their lives in the service of peace while serving in Afghanistan"

May 2008 - ramp ceremony
for a brave CF soldier.

Glyn Berry - Canada's first diplomat in Afghanistan (2002), and Canada's civilian casualty (Jan. 15, 2006).

Canada’s Agenda to 2011

Additional Actions:

• Enhanced civilian presence
• Greater financial authority to the field
• Integrated civ/mil planning
• More robust diplomatic strategy

The vision for 2011

Kandahar

• A more secure Kandahar, that is better governed and can deliver basic services to its citizens.

National

• Supported by a more capable national government that can better manage its borders and sustain stability and reconstruction gains over the long term.

Moving Forward

Focus on Development

Trades class (calligraphy) at
Turquoise Mountain for women
and men; Canadian financed.

Trades class (woodworking) at
Turquoise Mountain for women
and men; Canadian financed.

Trades class (woodworking) at
Turquoise Mountain for women
and men; Canadian financed.

Rebuilding Kabul market, pride
in past, hope for future.

Focus on Infrastructure

Roads/Dams

• Over 5,000 km of roads have been built or refurbished nationwide
• Key Kandahar-Spin Boldak highway being rebuilt and paved
• Arghandab River causeway constructed.
• Canadian commitment: Refurbish Dahla Dam

Canada building Route Fosters; linking key Kandahar towns, providing local jobs, building in security protections.

Focus on Health

Hospitals

• over 100 hospitals and nearly 900 health clinics operating across Afghanistan (2007)
• 85% of Afghans have access to basic medical care (9% in 2004, almost none in 2000)
• Canadian commitment: Immunize 7 million children

Only neonatal facility in Bamyam Province, built by Aga Khan Foundation, a close NGO partner of Canada in Afghanistan.

Focus on Education

Schools

• 2007: close to 6 million children (2 million girls) enrolled in school (2001: only 700,000 kids in school; no girls)
• Canadian commitment: 50 schools in Kandahar

Opening of the first Canadian built school building in Kandahar City, 50 more planned.

Focus on Training

Training - Police

An Afghanistan Police post, built and supported by embedded CF teams.

Canadian police officer (Sudbury) training Afghan Police in handling IEDs.

Training Afghanistan Police is key and a major challenge, from pay to literacy to corruption.

Training - Army

An Afghanistan army battalion embedded
at Canadian FOB Ma'Sum Ghar.

Focus on Governance

Local

Shuras are key…One of Afghanistan’s first mixed gender shuras, a key to empowering women and establishing democracy.

Provincial

Governors are key…Afghanistan’s only female Governor, and a champion for education for girls, and non-corrupt government.

National

Leadership is key…Canadian Ambassador Hoffmann and active engagement with Karzai Government.

New Integrated Approach and Team

A new form of Canadian international engagement… new integrated approach and team, including DFAIT, CF, DND, CIDA, RCMP, CSC, PCO.

• Security and development interconnected
• Integration of civilian and military
• Whole-of-government response in complex environments

Development

Governance

Integration