National Defence committee  Before responding to your question, there's just one point that I have to add, because I forgot to earlier. When we are talking about security in Afghanistan, the Taliban are the biggest and most major threat to Afghanistan, but we cannot ignore the other warlords. We never talk about them.

National Defence committee  I'll try to brief. I agree with all my friend, Ariane, has mentioned, and I have also given my recommendations to the members of Parliament. If they haven't received them so far, they will receive them in the mail. I truly believe that one of the reasons for insecurity in Afghanistan is the poverty and unemployment.

National Defence committee  First, I'm talking about the involvement of women, which wasn't something new that happened after September 11. The women of Afghanistan were involved throughout the liberation struggle from the former Soviet Union. They were even leading the wars and motivating the freedom fighters during the British war—all women from all over the country.

National Defence committee  I would like to start by thanking the Standing Committee on National Defence for inviting the Afghan Women's Organization to speak about the Canadian presence in Afghanistan, particularly as it relates to women. As an Afghan Canadian woman, I am grateful for the role Canada is playing in securing and developing my war-torn country of origin.