MONTREAL: Panel to Discuss Canada's Future Role in Afghanistan

Afghan promise
Meg Hewings
 
With the Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan deadlocked over the detainee issue, parliamentarians are ignoring the elephant in the room, says Lauryn Oates, human rights and gender equity activist with Canada-Afghan Solidarity Committee (CASC).

Canada's Kandahar combat role is set to end in 2011, as are key humanitarian projects supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Oates questions what will happen then: "What should Canada's role in Afghanistan be after 2011? Can Canada play a totally different role? What will that support look like? There's a complete policy vacuum."

Since early January, CASC has held extensive consultations with Afghans and Afghan-Canadians to develop a report, which outlines ways Afghans would like Canadians to continue playing a role in their country, notably through a focus on democracy and government accountability, police training and education.

Oates hopes the money freed up when combat troops return home will be used to refocus the Afghan mission on development and humanitarian projects. "The aid budget is only a tiny fraction of the military budget. We shouldn't abandon excellent programs in Kandahar that have proven successful just for the sake of political expediency."

Narrowing aid to a few key strategic sectors, such as democratic process and education, is also key to success. "Building schools and supporting education cuts off the supply to the Taliban over the long term," she says. "It's a security strategy that reflects the values of Canadians."

She says Canadians also need to shake the notion that being in Afghanistan makes us imperialist or neo-colonialist. "Afghans don't see it that way. Change won't happen overnight, especially after decades of conflict. Our engagement has to be sustained."

Oates, journalist/author Terry Glavin and deputy chief of the Afghanistan Mission to Canada Ershad Ahmadi will be in Montreal as part of a CASC panel to discuss Canada's future role and responsibilities in Afghanistan, May 17, at the Atwater Library (1200 Atwater), 7-9 p.m. They will present the report findings, premiere a new virtual exhibition called Unsung Heroes of Afghanistan and field questions. For more info, visit afghanistan-canada-solidarity.org.