Details of Afghan Extension Emerge

Government sources confirm Ottawa has approved a deployment of up to 950 troops, but not all will serve in Kabul.

The key details of the three-year extension of Canada's Afghan mission, to be officially announced Tuesday, have been revealed. A government source said up to 950 troops will be used, but not all of them will be deployed in the relative safety of Kabul. While all troops will be withdrawn from the dangerous Kandahar province, some could be stationed in cities like Jalalabad, where a military base was attacked last week. No Canadians training the Afghan National Army will be used in mentoring roles that would take them out into the field. While the source was adamant Canadians won’t see combat, NDP leader Jack Layton has suggested that is impossible to guarantee.