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SECURITY | Thirty-seven Countries Helping the Afghan People The Afghan people are relying on the international community to help them rebuild their lives and their country after having suffered through decades of instability, oppression and insurgency. The biggest threat to rebuilding is continued violence and threats from insurgents whose principal tactics are meant to disrupt and to prohibit Afghan men, women and children from going about their daily lives. The Afghanistan deployment is not, nor has it ever been, a traditional peacekeeping mission. There are no cease-fire arrangements to enforce and no negotiated peace settlement to respect. Negotiation is not an option with insurgent groups who are not interested in the kind of peace that the Afghan people seek. | 
Capt. Edward Stewart/DND |
 International Security Forces Afghan National Army Afghan National Police Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration The fight against narcotics Mine action and ammunition | | International Security Forces
From February to July 31, 2006, Canadian Forces (CF) personnel had been operating in Afghanistan as part of Operation Archer following the consolidation of the majority of CF assets from Kabul to Kandahar. CF personnel had previously served as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from August 2003 to November 2005 in the Kabul area (Operation Athena 2003-05). ISAF was originally authorized by UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1386 on December 20, 2001, with a mandate to assist the Afghan Transitional Authority. UN support for ISAF has been reaffirmed in subsequent Security Council resolutions. Since its original mission of providing security in the Kabul area, ISAF has expanded into 13 provinces of northern, western and now southern Afghanistan, regions where it also commands the military components of nine Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT). Canada now has a contingent of approximately 2,300 troops bringing security to southern Afghanistan, where Canada now has command of the multinational brigade headquarters. Canada’s role in the south helped to pave the way for the transfer in August 2006 of the operations there to NATO command.
| | Afghan National Army
The Canadian Forces have also contributed approximately 15 personnel to act as instructors involved in training the Afghan national army at the Canadian Afghan National Training Centre Detachment in Kabul.
| | Afghan National Police
Canadian civilian police have been deployed to the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar since August 2005 and are mandated to train and assist in building the capacity of local Afghan police. They are responsible for establishing relationships with law enforcement partners and serving as the focal point of contact between the PRT and local police. They advise, mentor and monitor the local police in close cooperation with Germany (the lead nation for police reform) and other international policing partners. The civilian police component ensures all activities are in compliance with international law and standards. There are presently five Canadian police officers—four from the RCMP and one from the Charlottetown Police Department—as part of the PRT. Deployments are normally for one year. | | Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration
Canada has also played a key role in demobilizing 63,000 Afghan soldiers who have fought during 25 years of war. Canada has disbursed close to $21 million in support of this process since its inception in October 2003. This funding allows former soldiers to gradually reintegrate into civilian life. Some of these individuals have chosen to open small shops selling construction material or clothing. Others work toward the destruction of mines that cover the country. Some have become teachers to foster a brighter future for Afghan children. However, the majority of them have chosen to return to farm their lands and feed their families and country. | | The fight against narcotics
The drug trade is considered one of the greatest obstacles to Afghanistan’s security and long-term development. Canada is investing close to $30 million in order to support three projects, including one in Kandahar, that offer viable alternatives to poppy cultivation for rural Afghans, to help them feed their families without having to turn to illicit cultivation.
| |  Mine action and ammunition
Anti-personnel mines and unsecured munitions stockpiles also threaten the long-term security of Afghans. Anti-personnel mines kill and injure more than 100 people each month in Afghanistan. They prevent access to farmlands, housing and water, and they interfere with road and bridge repairs, and the reconstruction of schools and clinics. Since 1989, Canada has allocated close to $60 million to the fight against antipersonnel mines and munitions, including a recent announcement of $12 million ($5 million for the United Nations program against mines, and $7 million for the destruction of munitions). Canadian funding supports the work of teams that remove and destroy mines. Since September 2002, more than 65,000 land mines have been destroyed. Funding also goes toward educating and making the population aware of this issue. This support is fundamental to the security of Afghans and Canadians present in Afghanistan. |
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