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Tories firm on Afghan exit plan despite Clinton’s plea

31 March 2010 01:48 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. The Canadian government insists it will not back down from its intention to pull its troops out of combat in Afghanistan next year, despite a not-so-subtle hint from the U.S. Secretary of State that Washington wants its closest ally to remain there, APA reports quoting edmonton.ctv.ca web-page.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told CTV’s Power Play on Monday that Washington values the work of Canadian soldiers and would "obviously like to see some form of support continue" beyond 2011 -- the year that Ottawa has pledged to pull the Canadian Forces off the Afghan battlefield.
In return, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said Tuesday that while Washington may offer encouraging words about Canadian soldiers and their capabilities, the government’s position on the matter is not negotiable.
"First, we all have to acknowledge how the Americans are very supportive of what Canadians and the Canadian troops and our civilian component are doing there," Cannon told CTV’s Canada AM from Aylmer, Que., on Tuesday morning.
"But at every opportunity I have had, I have mentioned to my colleagues that the government’s position is clear, it has been established by a motion in the Parliament of Canadaâ€¦and we indicated that beyond 2011 there would not be any combat role for Canadian troops and that our withdrawal was firm."
Clinton met privately with Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Tuesday morning, before she attended a G8 foreign ministers meeting later in the day.
Dimitri Soudas, the prime minister’s spokesperson, said Clinton did not repeat her request that Canada extend its mission in Afghanistan. He said however that Harper made it clear Ottawa was not budging on its pledge to pull the Canadian military out next year.
When Clinton spoke to Power Play on Monday, she suggested that the U.S. would welcome Ottawa keeping Canadian troops deployed in Afghanistan who could be assigned to train Afghan forces, undertaking development projects and other non-combat tasks.
Cannon said the government is still working out the precise plan for Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan after the end of its combat mission, something it updated the public on during the throne speech that was delivered earlier this month.
"You’ll recall that we’ve indicated as a government that there will be a diplomatic role, obviously for Canada, post-2011, as well as a development and aid role post-2011," he said. "And that, we’re in the midst of looking at, we’re in the midst of developing that aspect of our engagement in Afghanistan."
Asked if there will be a parliamentary debate on the potential non-combat involvement of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan after the formal withdrawal, Cannon said no debate is necessary because the military will not be involved in combat.
"We’ve made it clear that the military will not be (involved) post-2011 and in that regard, there is no need to have a debate in the House," said Cannon.
Harper addressed the foreign ministers Tuesday morning, outlining some of the issues they will be discussing, which include the ongoing challenges in Afghanistan.
"All of us have invested heavily and at considerable cost in lives in helping Afghanistan to build a peaceful and stable state that will never again become a haven for terrorists," said Harper.
"The Afghan government must continue to assume greater responsibility for its own security while providing basic services and good governance as President (Hamid) Karzai promised in London."
Harper said G8 members must continue to support Afghanistan, while ensuring that its leaders live up to their commitments.
Canada has lost more than 140 people during the mission in Afghanistan. In addition to troop casualties, a diplomat and journalist have also been killed.