Canada may send more troops to Afghanistan and NATO countries have agreed to bolster their troop numbers in the country's volatile southern region, Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson says.
During his first-ever trip to Afghanistan, Emerson told reporters at a news conference in Kabul on Saturday that Canada may deploy an additional 200 troops to the conflict-ridden country.
"Canada does have 2,500 troops here in Afghanistan and that number could expand to 2,700 as more equipment arrives," he said.
Emerson appeared to be linking the possible Canadian troop expansion to a new squadron of helicopters and aerial drones expected to be in place early next year. The new equipment will require additional pilots, support crews, and mechanics, government officials have previously said.
Emerson noted Canada is "comforted" by NATO's agreement to bolster troops in a region where Canadian troops have seen an increase in Taliban and insurgent attacks.
"We've been talking with our NATO allies and in fact we do now have commitments to increase the number of troops particularly in the Kandahar region," Emerson said. "We're really more comforted that the troop support is being increased in an appropriate way."
The Associated Press reported Saturday the Belgian government announced it will send 55 military engineers to Afghanistan next week. They are expected to lay the groundwork for 100 more NATO troops heading to the country in September to help Dutch forces.
Challenge in Afghanistan
Emerson also told reporters in Kandahar on Saturday that he's struck by the scope of the challenge facing Afghanistan as it attempts to rebuild and stabilize following almost 30 years of armed conflict.
Emerson said the Taliban won't be fading as a threat any time soon and that much remains to be done after Canada's combat mission ends in 2011.
"The insurgency is not going to be amenable to a short-term fix," Emerson said at the news conference.
"The Taliban is not going to go away in my opinion -- not in the near term ... It will be something that will have to be managed with great care, and vigour, for a long time to come.
The minister described the challenge of co-ordinating four government departments in what this country's single biggest foreign policy commitment.
The involvement of both civilian and military personnel, and the other countries working in Afghanistan, added to the complexity, he said. He noted the importance of the NATO mission in stabilizing the country.
"It is going to take some military capacity and military activity to get Afghanistan to the point where a more comprehensive, a more permanent solution can take effect," he said.
One of Emerson's tour stops is a $50-million Dahla dam rebuilding project on the Arghandab River, which is one of Canada's main development projects. Officials flew him there in a helicopter.
Emerson proclaimed himself impressed by the progress being made, adding that the dam will benefit the entire region.
With files from The Canadian Press
