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Canada says can't keep up Afghan tour without help
19 Oct 2006 18:55:02 GMT
Source: Reuters
Afghan turmoil
More By David Ljunggren
OTTAWA, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Canada increased the pressure on reluctant NATO allies to send more troops to war-torn southern Afghanistan on Thursday and said it could not maintain its 2,300-strong military mission there without more support.
Several European NATO members have troops in more peaceful parts of Afghanistan, but they restrict the missions the soldiers may carry out or refuse to send them to the south, where Canadian forces have frequently clashed with Taliban militants.
More than 40 Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan so far.
Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay said he had told NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer that Canada was finding it increasingly hard to continue.
"My point to him was that we cannot continue to do this without further support," he said in a speech at the foreign ministry which was also carried on live television.
"No one country, or even a handful of countries, can do all that is necessary to provide the kind of security environment needed in the other parts of the mission -- reconstruction and development."
De Hoop Scheffer told BBC radio on Thursday that other NATO members needed to do more in Afghanistan.
Canadian Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor said late on Wednesday that he hoped the questions of troop numbers and restrictions would be solved by the time NATO holds a summit in the Latvian capital Riga at the end of November.
"We are using the consultative councils of NATO to ensure that our allies are aware of the boots-on-the-ground requirement for (NATO) troops other than the Canadians in this region," said MacKay.
Canada's mission is due to stay in Kandahar until early 2009, but senior officials have openly mused about maintaining some kind of military presence after that.
The 26-member alliance admits it underestimated Taliban resistance in the south, where British, Dutch and Canadian soldiers are embroiled in what has been the toughest ground combat in NATO's 57-year history.
MacKay said Ottawa would continue putting pressure on NATO, and he lashed out at domestic critics of the mission who either want the troops to be withdrawn or are suggesting NATO needs to open talks with the Taliban.
"It fuels frustration and demoralization for our proud soldiers, and it motivates and emboldens the Taliban," he said.
19 Oct 2006 18:55:02 GMT
Source: Reuters
Afghan turmoil
More By David Ljunggren
OTTAWA, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Canada increased the pressure on reluctant NATO allies to send more troops to war-torn southern Afghanistan on Thursday and said it could not maintain its 2,300-strong military mission there without more support.
Several European NATO members have troops in more peaceful parts of Afghanistan, but they restrict the missions the soldiers may carry out or refuse to send them to the south, where Canadian forces have frequently clashed with Taliban militants.
More than 40 Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan so far.
Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay said he had told NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer that Canada was finding it increasingly hard to continue.
"My point to him was that we cannot continue to do this without further support," he said in a speech at the foreign ministry which was also carried on live television.
"No one country, or even a handful of countries, can do all that is necessary to provide the kind of security environment needed in the other parts of the mission -- reconstruction and development."
De Hoop Scheffer told BBC radio on Thursday that other NATO members needed to do more in Afghanistan.
Canadian Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor said late on Wednesday that he hoped the questions of troop numbers and restrictions would be solved by the time NATO holds a summit in the Latvian capital Riga at the end of November.
"We are using the consultative councils of NATO to ensure that our allies are aware of the boots-on-the-ground requirement for (NATO) troops other than the Canadians in this region," said MacKay.
Canada's mission is due to stay in Kandahar until early 2009, but senior officials have openly mused about maintaining some kind of military presence after that.
The 26-member alliance admits it underestimated Taliban resistance in the south, where British, Dutch and Canadian soldiers are embroiled in what has been the toughest ground combat in NATO's 57-year history.
MacKay said Ottawa would continue putting pressure on NATO, and he lashed out at domestic critics of the mission who either want the troops to be withdrawn or are suggesting NATO needs to open talks with the Taliban.
"It fuels frustration and demoralization for our proud soldiers, and it motivates and emboldens the Taliban," he said.
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