Afghanistan Committee on March 25th, 2010

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Admiral Davidson.

[RAdm Robert Davidson]

Mr. Chair, the Canadian Forces does not get involved in poppy eradication. That's clearly not something we see as being within our mandate, so we don't do it.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Okay, thank you.

Again, Mr. Chair, through you probably to Admiral Davidson, obviously there are a lot more U.S. forces in the country and a lot more in Kandahar. With respect to the security situation, how is the increase in U.S. forces impacting it, and how fast is it evolving?

[RAdm Robert Davidson]

Mr. Chair, the Canadian Forces continue to be responsible for Kandahar City and its approaches, notwithstanding that the surge has begun to take place. In fact, I think it's worth noting, and it's a measure of the U.S.'s degree of confidence in the Canadian Forces, that there are actually three battalions under Canadian command in our area of responsibility. Within our area of responsibility, the addition of those forces has significantly improved our ability to conduct the necessary operations.

For example, in the Dand District, where we opened the operations towards focusing on a village approach as opposed to a counter-Taliban one—more of a population-centred approach—one of the U.S. battalions is beginning to go into that particular area and will take charge of it. That will then allow Canadian Forces to focus in “clear” operations. We'll be following a counter-insurgency strategy of “clear, hold and build”. This allows us to shift our focus to clear another area from the insurgents, hold that ground, and then allow the development activity to progress.

Undoubtedly, the surge of U.S. forces, which is progressing apace, is allowing us to put greater emphasis on development inside the area.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Maybe we can have a quick answer to this one, Chair, from Ms. Bossenmaier.

Corruption, obviously, is a major effort. What and who is the key to getting a grip on corruption in Afghanistan? It's a big question, but...

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

It's a big question, and with a very short answer.

[Greta Bossenmaier]

Mr. Chairman, as Minister Cannon mentioned, corruption is a significant issue, and it's a significant issue that Canada has engaged upon. Picking up on an earlier comment, it also was one of the key topics at the London conference. We had the international community coming together with the Afghan government, saying that addressing corruption will be one of the key success factors in terms of the future stability and good governance within Afghanistan.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Thank you.

We'll move to Mr. Wilfert, please, for five minutes.

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Chairman, this is through you probably to the admiral.

The Canadian Press recently obtained previously censored reports via freedom of information described in the media as in contrast to the measured, sanitized quarterly reports put out by the government. The news story released on March 18 based on these reports indicated that the Taliban came very close to retaking Kandahar in the spring of 2009, so much so that in terms of Afghan governance, Kandahar was pushed to the brink, and in fact some members of the provincial council temporarily abandoned the region.

This is in very clear contrast to what we have heard in the past. Obviously even some of our commanders on the ground were quite concerned at the time about the military situation.

Can you comment on that?

[RAdm Robert Davidson]

I would say that I dispute that the Taliban were about to take command of Kandahar City. Of course I'm sure they were in a position to declare that themselves.

In a counter-insurgency, you can't prevent insurgents from being in certain parts of the country, and that's certainly the case in the counter-insurgency we're seeing in Afghanistan. There are insurgents who are operating from time to time in various locations. They do that because they can melt into the background environment, and then they can come back out again when they see fit, be it to conduct an IED attack or some other attack like the recent attack on the Sarposa Prison.

The mere fact that they have a capacity to do that in some areas doesn't mean that they're in a position to take command of the city, and I would dispute the allegation that they were in any position to take command of Kandahar City in 2009.

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Admiral, or any one of our panellists here, how would you describe the institutionalized building in Kandahar? In terms of the governance issue in Kandahar, how successful do you think we have been, given reports of that nature? One of the things we're obviously trying to do is capacity building, particularly in terms of governance.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Ms. Stirk.

[Jillian Stirk]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I would say that in many ways capacity building is an underlying theme or objective of almost everything that Canada does in Afghanistan, and certainly it is a very important part of all of our efforts in Kandahar province in particular.

Governance has been an important aspect of that, and we have been engaged in trying to build capacity in a number of different Kandahar institutions. There has been a lot of focus particularly on the justice side, but also on trying to make local government more responsive and more relevant for local Kandahar people. Indeed, it is a challenge. It is perhaps not surprising that it's a challenge given where we started in Afghanistan, a country torn apart by war for more than 30 years and with only the most basic of institutions.

We feel that there have been some important achievements in developing governance in the region, but of course there is still a very long way to go. These kinds of nascent institutions are constantly under threat from the insurgents, who see these as a threat to their own influence in the region.

But certainly I would say that we continue to work very hard in terms of capacity building and trying to strengthen and improve local governance so we can eventually hand over our responsibility for these institutions to the Afghans.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

You have 20 seconds, Mr. Wilfert.

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

This report, unlike past reports we have received at this committee, makes no predictions concerning the success or failure of goals tied to the priorities of the government or regarding the military missions or security. Am I reading that wrong, or is that in fact the case? It seems to be in stark contrast to previous reports this committee has received.

[William F. Pentney]

Mr. Chairman, if I could begin, others can pick up and speak on this.

Perhaps picking up very quickly on elements of the member's two earlier questions as well, you must recognize that while we honour the sacrifice that Canadians have made, there are Afghan officials whose lives have been taken. There is a targeted assassination campaign that has been going on for some time. There are Afghan National Police whose lives have been lost in great numbers because of the attacks they have suffered. There's the Afghan National Army.

So it is true to say that in the south as elsewhere, as is common in a counter-insurgency, Afghan officials throughout the government are under threat. Those who cooperate with allied forces are under threat. It would be well for the committee and the Canadian population to understand the sacrifices that the Afghans themselves have made in building and defending their country.

It is certainly true that in the south, as part of the counter-insurgency, creating that fear and instability, undermining efforts to develop adequate governance, and trying to generally instill in the population the sense that they're in control and we're not part of--

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

I certainly recognize that, sir, from my two visits to Afghanistan. I certainly saw that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Thank you.

[William F. Pentney]

And in terms of achieving the goals, I would say on behalf of the goal in respect of the Afghan army that there has been great success. There is now a headquarters and also several kandaks that have achieved operational success. It's a long road to build a highly professional, trained, and fully functioning army, but we've seen tremendous progress made in the south in respect of that aspect of Canada's goal.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Obhrai, I know you had a question. We have about 30 seconds.

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

That's it?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

That's all.

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

All right.

Talking about this long road, can you tell us about Operation Kantolo, the village approach, so that we can understand it in terms of governance?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

That will be the last question and the last answer. Thanks.

[RAdm Robert Davidson]

Mr. Chairman, I recognize that you would like me to be very quick, so I will.

What we have begun is a village approach, which is to focus, as I say, on “clear, hold, and build” kinds of strategies. The idea is to go into various locations, clear the area of insurgents, hold the ground, and allow a transition for Afghan national security forces to take primary responsibility there if possible, particularly the Afghan National Police, if that can be done. That will let them create the environment in which our other government department partners and non-government agencies can get in there and start to do more development.