Afghanistan and Canada Role - Example for IR

Afghanistan BackgroundA landlocked country bordered by Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan (former USSR, Pakistan and Iran.

Size slightly smaller than Texas, it is a land of mountains, plains, cold winters and hot summers often threatened by earthquakes and floods

2005 population- about 30 million people (48%

Afghanistan BackgroundcontdSome FactsNRI (Births Deaths) = 26.3Infant Mortality Rate = 163.1 / 1000Life Expectancy = 42.9 yearsFertility Rate = 6.75 children / womanSeven major tribes with Pashtun at 42% of the populationSunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim =19%Literacy Rate 36% (only 21% for women)Population 30 M with 4 M refugeesUnemployment rate 40%Largest agricultural product OpiumGDP PPP - $800.

Afghanistan HistoryFormed in 1747 when the nomadic Pashtun tribes unitedLate 19th and early 20th Century, Afghanistan was under British control serving as a physical buffer between the British (India) and Russian empiresWon independence in 1919Used democratic-style government until a communist-backed military coup in 1973Invaded by USSR in 1979 Waged guerrilla-style war by Mujahedeen rebels backed by international community (e.g., USA) to oust Soviets in 1989

Afghanistan HistorycontdErupted into civil war in 1992Ruled by Taliban, a fundamentalist Islamic group, starting 1996Entered by USA-led coalition in 2001 to initiate War on Terrorism, oust Taliban, and reconstruct economy, society and governmentEstablished new constitution in 2003Held a presidential election in 2004 with Hamid Karzai elected as presidentConducted National Assembly elections in 2005.

Afghanistan and CanadaIn February 2002, 140 Canada soldiers joined Allied troops

In February 2006, Canada takes command of Allied troops. Canadas contingent, called Task Force Afghanistan, has over 2,000 soldiers based around Kandahar. The coalition is led by Canadian Brigadier-General David Fraser. Canada also has a Provincial Reconstruction Team and about $10 M/yr in aid.

In 2007, Canada listed 55 soldiers dead. Coalition deaths equalled 567 including 319 USA troops. Over 8,500 Afghanistan troops and 3,500 civilians have been killed.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said, When we send troops into the field, I expect Canadians to support those troops."

Afghanistan CultureBuzkashi, means "goat killing, requires a horse-mounted rider to carry a dead calf across a goal line.

Ramadan (the ninth month in the Muslim year) is the month of fasting. During Ramadan, the Qu'ran was first revealed to the Prophet Mohammad. As well, the Battle of Badr between idol worshippers of Mecca and the Muslims of Medina took place.

The family is headed by the oldest man whose word is law for the family. Family honour, pride, and respect toward other members are highly prized qualities.

Afghanistan Women and the TalibanThe Taliban controlled every aspect of the womans life.Women were forced to wear long veils with a facial screen to hide their bodies and identity to avoid luring men into corruption.The windows in the home were painted so women could not see the interactions of the world.There were no public bathrooms for women.Women could not go to school or work.In court, a womans testimony is the value of a mans testimony. Rapes, etc. increased.Public beatings were common.Women were ordered not to laugh or speak loudlyWomen could not travel unaccompanied outside the home

Sample Education Post-TalibanFollowing the ouster of the Taliban in 2002, children went back in school, but teachers had to erase war images from the textbooks -- images that were put in the books via the 1980s Cold War policies in the United States. The Mujahedeen had used the classroom to prepare children to fight the Soviets and create a warrior culture. USA printed the books that taught pupils the proper clips for a Kalashnikov rifle, the weight of bombs needed to flatten a house and the equations to calculate the speed of bullets.

With the overthrow of the Soviets, USA abandoned Afghanistan, but the images of war in textbooks remains.

Taliban TodayUntil 2001, the Taliban had one leader, a clear ideology and defined membership (e.g., dress code)

Now, the Taliban are insurgents fighting against the new Afghanistan government and the Allied Forces. There are several leaders commanding small, separate units while working toward different objectives (e.g., protection of drug money). Old leaders hide in Pakistan, and funding from external sources has largely stopped. Former fundamentalist leader Mullah Mohammed Omar presents direction without control.

Canada and Afghanistan 2006Heavy weapons cantonment: Canadian munitions experts are helping the Afghanistan government collect, store and decommission 10,000 heavy weapons left over from decades of war, including artillery, tanks and rocket launchers. Demining: Canada has helped clear about one third of the estimated 10 million to 15 million mines in Afghanistan.

Canada in Afghanistan 2006Microloans: Money from Canada has been used to provide microloans to more than 140,000 people in Afghanistan. Almost 90% of the clients are women. Training: Canada also has a role in training the Afghan police and army. A group of Canadian Forces instructors were in Kabul to train members of the Afghan National Army. The unit remained in Kabul while the rest of the Canadian contingent moved south to Kandahar. Canadian troops are also training Afghan soldiers in Kandahar and the RCMP has a commitment to train Afghan police officers.

Canada in Afghanistan 2006Other reconstruction facts

In 2004, the first democratic election was held. Hamid Karzai was elected President. Women hold 25% of the seats in the National Assembly.

Over 1,000 schools have been built and six million children go to school. Under the Taliban, less than one million children attended school. Four in ten children in school are girls.

Since 2001, the per capita income has doubled and Afghanistans economy has tripled.

Nearly 80% of people have access to health care. Under the Taliban, less than 8% received care.

Several new branches of government have been established to support centralized efforts to provide services.

400,000 refugees have returned.

Canada in Afghanistan 2006The Department of National Defense has also admitted that Canada's secret special forces, Joint Task Force Two, has been operating alongside the American and other special forces units in Afghanistan but no details have ever been released.

As noted, Canada has 2,000 troops in the war zone of Afghanistan.

Other ConsiderationsPakistan Fundamentalist Islamic with strong ties to Mujahedeen via CIA training.

Reconstruction The pace is very slow. Poor are moving into the cities looking for work that is not presently available.

Authority Afghanistan is autonomous provinces.

Opium Largest agricultural crop

Canada in Afghanistan?Should Canada be in Afghanistanas a military fighting force in the war against terrorism?

as a military fighting force trying to restore peace?

as a country providing reconstruction aid, expertise and advice?

as a country trying to build social and economic partnerships?

as a promoter of democracy, freedom and rights?

Who does this sound like?In our judgment, it was much more fundamental. It was the removing of a regime that was hostile I think, frankly, that everybody knew the post-war situation was probably going to be more difficult than the war itself.

We will not be in any way backtracking from an obligation which has been undertaken.

We believe that the success of this mission is important not just in terms ofobjectives but important in terms of the contribution we are making to the world community and to global security. We can ignore the dangers if we want, but the dangers will not ignore us. Unless we control the security situation in countries like Afghanistan, we will see our own security diminished.