Afghanistan committee  The majority of them were in groups. We would chat, too. There were always conversations that would happen around the PRT or KAF, as well. But if you're talking formal briefings, of course there were other people in the room.

Afghanistan committee  When he would come through, we would talk about the general situation on the ground in Kandahar. I think we had a very constructive relationship, and he was always interested in hearing from me and other civilians about issues and the state of play.

Afghanistan committee  We would talk occasionally about the NDS, in general terms.

Afghanistan committee  Yes, we would, because we have seen evidence of that behaviour in Sarposa Prison among officials. They have been mentored and trained by Canadian officials and have benefited.

Afghanistan committee  It's fair to say that it is not the environment of North America.

Afghanistan committee  You have to work with what's there, as long as you're aware of all of the details and the situation at hand. The United States, for all of its close and much more in-depth relationship with the NDS than ours, still has its own detention facilities in Afghanistan. They don't work with the NDS in the same way we do in terms of transferring detainees.

Afghanistan committee  Yes, to my knowledge.

Afghanistan committee  I'm not so certain I would go that far, but I do believe there are inherent structural behavioural examples within the NDS that should give us pause, and that we as a community in Regional Command South, through ISAF, including our allies, should review, better now than never, whether they are a viable partner for the coalition going forward.

Afghanistan committee  I would agree with the bulk of that statement. It's certainly no secret the way the NDS has behaved over time. In my view, they are not accountable to anyone, perhaps other than the president. Mr. Saleh is considered a de facto cabinet minister himself. The people we worked with on the ground in Kandahar over my time, Mr.

Afghanistan committee  I don't see there being as much of a problem right now in us transferring detainees, because we have such a rigid oversight mechanism for the specific individuals we transfer over. We have, by and large, been able to get in and do interviews in a timely manner within, ideally, the 48-hour period in order to see them.

Afghanistan committee  No, I did not.

Afghanistan committee  It was based on a multitude of factors. When I was in CAF in 2006-07, RC South was under Dutch command. The Dutch had very real and overt concerns. They didn't hesitate to share them. We, as Canadian officials, began to understand the situation on the ground, I think, a little better over time, and we started to realize that the NDS itself was in need of some reform.

Afghanistan committee  In the context of my service as special adviser to the Manley panel, the report recommended that Canada develop priorities and streamline our approach so we could be better equipped to deliver on certain specifics, as opposed to the broad approach that preceded the Manley report.

Afghanistan committee  I am satisfied to the extent that I think it's as much as we can expect, given the security conditions on the ground.

Afghanistan committee  Yes, other than providing civilian officials with the transportation necessary to get to the NDS facility and back during the course of those monitoring visits.