Minister Oda Concludes Visit to Afghanistan: Measured the progress of Canadian aid projects

On May 20, 2010, the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation and Vice-Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Afghanistan, concluded a visit to Afghanistan where she monitored the success of Canadian aid in reaching benchmarks for irrigation projects, agricultural programs and education. Read the news release and the backgrounders on current development projects in Kandahar province and across the country.

Government of Canada commits additional Canadian Forces personnel to train Afghan National Security Forces

On April 8, the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, announced in Kabul that the Government of Canada is committing up to 90 additional personnel, primarily to support the training of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). Of this increased contribution, the majority will augment the NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan (NTM-A), while the remainder will provide increased support within Joint Task Force – Afghanistan and ISAF headquarters, until the end of Canada’s mission in 2011. Read the Statement and the story from the field.

Canada’s Ambassador to Afghanistan William Crosbie meets with newly appointed female Provincial Council members from across Afghanistan

On March 30, 2010, Canada’s Ambassador to Afghanistan William Crosbie and Head of Aid at the Canadian embassy Heather Cruden met with newly appointed female Provincial Council members from across Afghanistan who were in Kabul to receive training aimed at enhancing their skills associated with their new duties. Read the story.

What's New

William Crosbie, Canada’s Ambassador to Afghanistan helps mark International Mine Action Day

On April 3, 2010, William Crosbie, Canada’s Ambassador to Afghanistan joined the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, and US Ambassador Karl Eikenberry to mark International Mine Action Day. Read the story.

Celebrating Success: The Fabric of Economic Development

Afghan women work to produce 119 kg of yarn each day from raw cotton that is processed in a plant in Helmand province.

An important theme underlying Canada’s work in Afghanistan is to improve the lives of women and girls in that country. Canada works to achieve this goal by supporting projects that strengthen the human rights of women and girls, improve maternal health, generate and support economic opportunities for women and help increase their opportunities for political participation. Read the full story.

Operation SHER II: Canadians step back as Afghans move forward

The sun was still behind the jagged mountains as Afghan and Canadian soldiers boarded the CH-147 Chinook helicopters for Operation SHER II, an air-mobile operation led by Lieutenant-Colonel Sakhi Barriz of Kandak 2 of the 1st Brigade, 205 Corps Afghan National Army. His task force comprised about 140 Afghan soldiers from Kandak 2, a 20-man detachment from the Afghan Uniformed Police, and 80 soldiers of the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (1 PPCLI) Battle Group. Read more on the story.

Canada funds training for Afghan journalists

GMIC Capacity Building and Training Unit Deputy Director Mahmood Dastgeer presents a certificate.

Nearly 40 Afghan journalists who completed professional training funded by the Embassy of Canada in Afghanistan were presented with certificates at a ceremony hosted by the Government Media and Information Centre on April 7. Read the full story.

Joint Canadian-Afghan engineer effort restores traffic on Tarnak River bridge

A bridge severely damaged by a suicide bomber has been repaired through the joint efforts of Canadian and Afghan military engineers. A Mabey-Johnson prefabricated truss bridge is now in place on the section of Highway 4 spanning the Tarnak River that was destroyed on March 1, 2010, in an attack that claimed the lives of three people. Read the full story.

Afghan National Army bulldozing its way into a new capability

The Afghan National Army formation in Kandahar Province — 1st Brigade, 205 Corps (1/205) — is reaching a significant milestone in military capacity-building. It will soon have its own heavy equipment platoon. A heavy equipment course conducted with the help of six Canadian field engineers from the Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams recently put 26 Afghan soldiers, most of them ex-farmers who had never even driven a car, at the controls of bulldozers, excavators, dump trucks and tractor-trailers. Read the story.

Embassy Drivers Recognized by the Canadian Forces, Civilian Police Contingent

Superintendent Dave Fudge presents plaque to Saleem Hassan

Mr. Saleem Hassan, a driver at the Embassy of Canada in Afghanistan, who was seriously injured during an insurgent attack on ISAF headquarters in August 2009, was recognized on April 15, 2010, by both the Canadian Forces and the Canadian Civilian Policing Contingent. Read the full story.

Embassy Hosts Cricket Summit to Support Disabled Team

Canada’s embassy in Afghanistan hosted the first Kabul Cricket Summit on April 3, 2010, bringing together teams from around the city to support a group of aspiring disabled cricket players from the eastern city of Jalalabad. Read full story.

Video: Afghanistan’s Landmines

Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. With Canadian support, Afghanistan has already seen a decline of 55% in the monthly number of mine victims. More than 1.3 billion square metres of land have been cleared, and 8.3 million Afghans have benefited from mine risk education activities. Watch the video.

Photo Gallery - Minister of National Defence in Kabul

View a selection of photos of the Minister of National Defence in Kabul in our Flickr gallery.

The Focus on Afghanistan Conference

Updated factsheets

CIVPOL Diary - April 2010: My memorable meeting with Agha Jan Kakar

"March 8 was International Women’s Day. This day has great meaning in Afghanistan — it’s a time to stop and think about the place of women in this country. What I wanted was to sit down and talk with my female Afghan counterparts at the police headquarters building in Kandahar. The last time I visited, insurgents had set off a car bomb the day before, shattering all of the building’s windows." Read more on this story.

The Many Faces of Afghanistan raises awareness of Canada’s engagement in Afghanistan in Budapest, Hungary

Rebuilding Afghanistan Photo Exhibit on display in Montreal

Canada’s Youth Learn About Afghanistan

The Afghanistan360° multimedia exhibit is currently touring the country and will be on display at a variety of public events. Showcasing Canada's six priorities and three signature projects through a myriad of visuals, short videos and narrative, its purpose is to inform Canadians about Canada’s role in Afghanistan. Check for dates and locations near you.

"Why we're there" poster series

AfCam

Combat Camera

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