CASC Unveils Recommendations for Canadian Government

The priorities moving past 2011 for Canada ought to include building up Afghanistan's civil society, investing in education and upgrading the country's shockingly low literacy rate, and training Afghan security forces to protect gains, CASC's Vision document states (Look for it on our website shortly!). Olivia Ward writes a summary of CASC's findings in the Toronto Star:

Canada should not be shy about using its influence to pressure the Afghan government toward democracy, according to Terry Glavin, lead author of the report, being released Tuesday in Ottawa.

"What people told us was not to be (afraid) of treading on Afghan sovereignty," Glavin said. "We must tell the president that rule of law is important."...

"When we debate the army leaving Afghanistan, we forget that the root cause of the conflict is lack of development, aid and education," said Banerjee, who led the CIDA mission in Kabul 2003 to 2006.

"In the (UN) human development index, Afghanistan is going down. But security and development go together, which is why Afghans feel so helpless."

After 2011, he said, Canada should loosen its ties with Kandahar, where the troops are based.

MacKenzie said resettling development away from turbulent southern Afghanistan would be possible but moving Canadian Forces would be difficult and costly.

After 2011, he said, Canada should focus on training, mentoring Afghan troops and maintaining reconstruction teams.