Canadian History

The evolution of Canada's involvement.

Canadian-American Relations in Afghanistan

Canadian forces have aligned themselves with American troops since being stationed in Afghanistan. Dr Seddiq Weera, a Canadian peace educator born in Afghanistan and currently stationed in Kabul advising the Afghan Ministry of Education and the National Independent Commission on Strengthening Peace (INCSP) argues Canadian forces are merely accompanying American forces as their continued advancement into the country foments hostility towards foreign troops from the Taliban as well as Afghan citizens. Canadian forces are largely unaware of what role they occupy in the conflict, if any of significance. Yet merely associating with American troops for the sake of contribution is deleterious as the US strategy of overwhelming force and deal making with local warlords has infuriated observers on all sides. Peggy Manson (former Canadian ambassador) suggests Canadian forces should solely follow the NATO led peacekeeping missions, which Canada has been a member of since their beginnings.

Op-Ed Piece: Global Research

Canada's Foreign Policy Strengths Exemplified in Role in Afghanistan

This report best details Canadian involvement in Afghanistan, past and present, and looks to the future of Canada’s responsibilities there. The Independent Panel stresses Canada’s motivations for the deployment of civilian and military personnel and the supply of development aid in the largest Canadian foreign policy engagement since the Korean War, including Canada’s policy of sharing good fortune with others, support of UN and its peace enforcement operations, support of NATO and the ipso facto service of Canadian security interests, and the prevention of a humanitarian crisis similar to the recent Rwandan genocide. In keeping with these motivations, Afghanistan receives more aid from Canada than any other country. Canada is, perhaps most significantly, the leader of the Provincial Reconstruction Team of Kandahar, the province most heavily influenced by Canadian development and security work. A critical contribution of Canadian forces has been the training of the Afghan National Army, especially in the Kandahar region.

IO / NGO Report: The Independent Panel on Canada's Future Role in Afghanistan

Canada Helps Enhance Afghan Women's Status

Canada is helping improve the situation that Afghan women and girls are in. It provides a great amount of money for the improvement of women’s education and literacy as well as their legal and political rights. It also contributes to the facilitation of better elections that meet the needs of Afghan women. In addition, the small loans and savings service supports many Afghans, mostly women. Because of the help of the Canadian government and NGOs, Afghan women currently have more access to vocational training and occupations as well. Afghan women’s human rights have been dramatically improved compared to before, but the violation of their rights is still common, and their standard of living is far from perfect. The report reflects Canada’s substantial efforts to resolve the conflict in Afghanistan.

Government Report: afghanistan.gc.ca

Highway 1 Battle Defining Canada's Role

Highway 1 is Afghanistan’s landlocked lifeline. Securing the destroyed highway will allow agricultural products and political control to reach isolated parts of the country. Canada’s role in this has been in flushing the Taliban out of Panjawii, a keystone town along the highway, through several military operations. Yet Taliban attacks persist rendering road construction and developmental efforts obsolete. While the Canadian debate has emphasized simpler objectives such as the restoration of an irrigation dam, none of these gains will create peace if the Taliban can continue to use the region as a base for its insurgency. Policymakers have struggled to convey Canada’s role in Afghanistan’s bloodiest region. This article emphasizes the importance of the Canadian role in securing the toughest stretch of the highway that promises the hope of political unity in Afghanistan.

Magazine: The Walrus Magazine

Canada's Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan

The mission of Canada in Afghanistan is focused on development, diplomacy, defense, and commerce. Its task is to ensure the stability of Afghanistan, keeping in mind that the possibility of a return of a Taliban regime would be grave to regional stability as well as Canada’s national interests. Ottawa sent the SAT-A, a specialized team to help President Hamid Karzai legitimize its government and help to stabilization and simultaneous reconstruction of different elements in the state. Canada’s efforts have been actively constant in the support to stabilize and rebuild Afghanistan. This article gives a description of the impact this specialized team had on the reformation of the structure of Afghanistan as well as the importance of the role that specialized teams rather than civilian groups have in government interventions.

Journal Article: Canadian Military Journal

Why and How Canada is at War in Afghanistan

As one of the most complete works of its time to describe Canada’s role in Afghanistan, Peter Pigott’s book is an essential read for anyone interested in studying this conflict. With a solid introduction to Afghan history and culture, including that of the Taliban, the book places the conflict in a context that is both clear and defining. Then, beginning with Prime Minister Chrétien’s announcement of Operation Apollo in October, 2001, Canada’s involvement on the ground in Afghanistan is detailed by careful research and personal experience. Canada’s role as it fits into the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is a recurring theme. With a breath of fresh air, Pigott spends time on the good that Canada has accomplished since entering Afghanistan in 2001, including its efforts on the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT). \"Canada in Afghanistan\" is a comprehensive coverage of the first half of Canada’s war in Afghanistan.

Book: Dundern Press

Afghan Mission Baptism of Fire for New Model of Peacekeeping

The mission in Afghanistan signifies a fundamental shift from the Pearsonian model of peacekeeping that erstwhile characterized Canada’s role in military interventions overseas towards the so-called 3D approach of integrated defense, diplomacy, and development. Afghanistan represents a particularly challenging test case for this new model of integrated peacekeeping, with an audacious insurgency, deep tribal divisions, and the legacy of decades of conflict serving as obstacles to the success of Canada’s mission. To achieve success, a unity of purpose and level of coordination that does not currently exist within NATO forces participating in Afghanistan must be attained to ensure that all forces in this theatre are working towards a common goal. This paper articulates both the strategic challenges as well as the domestic and international political issues that have prevented the mission in Afghanistan from achieving a completely integrated approach, and outlines the components necessary to achieve this integration.

Journal Article: International Journal

Canada in Afghanistan: A Shift in Foreign Policy from Peacekeeping to War Making

This article examines peacekeeping as an instrument of Canadian foreign policy through the years and articulates a well-rounded argument that discusses the decision to follow the American advance into the war on terrorism. The article is of particular interest because it maps the political reasoning of Canadian decision makers and their decision to support President Bush’s pre-emptive invasion of Afghanistan. 9/11 was a turning point in Canadian foreign policy as it led to a crucial turn from active peacekeeping to active militarization. With global initiatives such as the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) legitimizing a full-scale deployment of troops and engaging both diplomatic and official resources to the cause, there has been active debate with respect to Canada’s future on the Afghan front. The article fully embodies this debate, in addition to mapping UN involvement.

Op-Ed Piece: Canadian Military Journal

Canadian Military Operations in Afghanistan

In response to the 9/11 terrorist attack, Canadian involvement in Afghanistan began with Prime Minister Chrétien’s announcement of military support for the war against terrorism following the invocation of article 5 of the Treaty of Washington. The Canadian military mandate to establish a secure environment throughout Kandahar, train and build an Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, and to support the authority of the Government of Afghanistan has been undertaken by the Joint Task Force- Afghanistan (JTF-AFG). Other Canadian military operations include the KPRT to facilitate reconstruction, development aid, and to support the Afghan government; the OMLT to advise, mentor, and train the Afghan National Army; the CSTC-A to overlook reforms of the Afghan National Security Forces; and the SAT-A to assist Afghan bureaucrats. This report is helpful in providing a history of Canadian military operations in Afghanistan, and details four options for the future of Canadian involvement as studied by the Manley Committee.

Government Report: Library of Parliament