Detainees Debate a Waste of Time

Very blunt talk from Afghanistan's ambassador to Canada is likely to send shockwaves through Canada's parliament. While opposition parties have railed against the government on the issue of "Afghan detainees", direction on the big picture of Canada's role in Afghanistan is being ignored.

Afghanistan Ambassador to Canada Jawed Ludin says the focus ought not to be on the detainees issue that was dealt with in the past -- the Conservatives and all opposition parties ought to be having a responsible discussion about what Canada's role in Afghanistan looks like post-2011. Anything less would be an insult to Canadians who have sacrificed much for this mission. In the Vancouver Sun:

"We need discussion in Canada about where Afghanistan is going, how important it is that Canada support us and how important it is that the support continue in some shape or form. That discussion is not happening because this story has totally dominated discussion in Parliament."

The soft-spoken Ludin also said that Canada's contributions in Afghanistan have been crucial, particularly the stabilization of Kandahar, although the scheduled pullout in 2011 has him concerned.

Afghans would accept an end to Canada's combat mission, he said, but leaving entirely would baffle them. After Canada's years and sacrifices, Afghans do not understand why the nation would want to leave before the greater successes, which Ludin believes will come soon.

"We would like to believe that you are really serious about success in Afghanistan, that this wasn't just an exercise for your military to get some experience on the battlefield. We would like to believe you were actually there for us, which I believe is the case," he said. "It's a bit difficult to understand why some people now question wether you should be there. It's a bit of an insult, to be honest, to all the sacrifices that have been made."