Canada's top soldier says Taliban fighters are increasingly attacking fellow Afghans in an attempt to halt progress without facing the deadly consequences of fighting NATO forces.
Chief of defence staff, Gen. Rick Hillier, said Afghan National Police and development workers are perceived by the Taliban as "softer targets."
Gen. Rick Hillier speaks to reporters in Afghanistan in October.
(Bill Graveland/Canadian Press)
"[The Taliban] can attack them, they can stop progress in some respects by doing that and also … not pay as severe a price as when they attack us," Hillier said.
Hillier made the comments on Sunday while answering questions from the public on CBC Radio's Cross Country Checkup hosted by Rex Murphy.
Canadian Forces first observed the shift in attacks last summer, Hillier said.
He noted that the vast majority of Afghans remain supportive of the NATO-led mission, despite a natural aversion to foreign troops.
"No population in any country wants a foreign military force on their soil. That is no different in Afghanistan," said Hillier.
But he added that Afghans are tolerant of their presence because they believe it is giving them time to build a strong government.
With foreign troops battling insurgents, locals don't need to worry "that the government of Afghanistan might fall and the entire progress to date might just shatter," he said.
Roughly 2,500 Canadian soldiers are among the 26,000-member NATO force fighting in the country. To date, Canadian casualties include the deaths of 73 soldiers and one diplomat.
Canada's current mission in Afghanistan expires in February 2009. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has appointed a committee to advise Parliament in late January on what Canada's future role should be.
Asked how long he believes Canada's mission in Afghanistan should last, Hillier wouldn't give a time frame.
Instead, he said the measure will be: "Can we look in the eyes of the families who have lost their loved ones in Afghanistan and tell them their sacrifice was not in vain?"
He insists great progress is being made in Afghanistan, but it will be many years before the country is considered truly stable.
Mission requires combat role
Numerous callers to the radio show asked whether Canada had forsaken its traditional peacekeeping role with the combat mission in Afghanistan.
Hillier disagreed, saying the focus of Canada's military hasn't changed, just this mission. Without a signed peace deal to implement in Afghanistan, troops end up in a combat role.
He also commented on recent debate over whether the Afghan government should engage in peace talks with the Taliban.
In September, the Taliban rejected an offer of peace talks by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, saying they would only negotiate once foreign troops withdraw from Afghanistan.
Hillier said he doesn't think negotiations with the insurgents would be fruitful, but that the Afghan government could be successful in winning over many of the group's sympathizers.
Related
More Canada Headlines »
- Police ID 14-year-old victim of Toronto's first 2008 homicide
- A 14-year-old-girl killed on New Year's Day has been identified by Toronto police as Stefanie Rengel, the daughter and stepdaughter of two veteran Toronto police officers.
- Atlantic Canada digs out from latest storm
- The East Coast was digging out Thursday after the latest in a series of winter storms — but there were few places to put all the white stuff.
- Attacker dies in botched home invasion east of Calgary
- A violent home invasion east of Calgary ended with one of the attackers dead and a second suffering serious stab wounds early Thursday morning.
- Petitioners demand second Pickton trial
- People across Canada are urging the Crown in British Columbia to proceed with a second trial on the 20 additional murder counts facing convicted serial killer Robert Pickton.
- Blustery winds, mild temperatures ice up Manitoba highways
- Strong south winds in Manitoba through the night created hazardous driving conditions on highways Thursday morning.
Canada Features
Blog Watch
Most Blogged about CBC.ca Articles
Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - link will open in new window