Backgrounder - Canadian Forces Operations in Afghanistan
(*Article reprinted from http://www.forces.gc.ca/)
Why are we there?
 More than 2000 members of the Canadian Forces (CF) are in
Afghanistan today at the request of the Afghan Government,
most of them as part of the UN-Sanctioned NATO-led International
Stabilization Assistance Force (ISAF) mission to:
- Defend Canadian interests at home and abroad by preventing
Afghanistan from relapsing into a failed state that provides
a safe haven for terrorists and terrorist organizations;
- Provide the people of Afghanistan with the hope for a
brighter future by establishing the security necessary
to promote development;
- Help the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
and its people to build a stable, peaceful and self-sustaining
democratic country;
The CF commitment is an important aspect of the Government
of Canada's whole of Government approach to assisting
Afghanistan. For more information on Canada's commitment
to Afghanistan visit the Canada-Afghanistan website.
The situation today
The CF contribution to Afghanistan consists of more than
2000 personnel from units across Canada and is referred to
as Task Force Afghanistan (TFA). TFA is subdivided into three
distinct missions that work in concert with each other and
have the same overarching goal of improving the security
situation in Afghanistan, and assisting in rebuilding the
country. The three missions currently underway are:
- Op ATHENA - The Canadian
contribution to the NATO led International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF) currently has 2,000 CF personnel
committed to Op ATHENA.
- Op ARCHER -Consists
of embedded CF staff officers at Combined Joint Task Force
76 (CJTF-76) headquarters, and the Combined Security Transition
Command -Afghanistan (CSTC-A, formerly the Office
of Security Cooperation - Afghanistan) and a small cadre
of CF instructors involved in the training of the Afghan
National Army (ANA) at the Canadian Afghan National Training
Centre Detachment (CANTC Det) in Kabul. The current Canadian
contribution to Op ARCHER consists of about 35 CF
personnel.
- Op ARGUS - The Strategic
Advisory Team to the government of the Islamic Republic
of Afghanistan currently has 15 Canadians
working in Kabul in support of Op ARGUS.
Operation ATHENA:
The Canadian Forces contribution to the International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF): approximately 2000 CF personnel
On July 31, 2006, CF personnel serving in Afghanistan were
once again assigned to the UN-authorized, NATO led ISAF mission
in Afghanistan when ISAF assumed command of the southern
region of Afghanistan from the US-led Operation Enduring
Freedom (OEF). This transition occurred as a result of the
planned expansion of ISAF's mission in Afghanistan.
From February to July 31, 2006 CF personnel had been operating
in Afghanistan under OEF leadership as part of Operation
ARCHER following the consolidation of the majority
CF assets from Kabul, to Kandahar Airfield. CF personnel
had previously served as part of ISAF from August 2003 to
November 2005 in the Kabul area (Operation
ATHENA 2003-2005).
Background
ISAF was originally authorized by the UN Security Council
Resolution (UNSCR) 1386 on December 20, 2001, with a
mandate to assist the Afghan Transitional Authority. UN support
for ISAF has been reaffirmed in subsequent Security Council
Resolutions, most recently in UNSCR 1659 on
February 15, 2006. Since its original mission of providing
security in the Kabul area, ISAF has expanded into 13 provinces
of northern, western and now southern Afghanistan, regions
in which it also commands the military components of nine
Provincial Reconstruction Teams. More information on ISAF
can be found on the ISAF
website.
Mission
 The Canadian government's overarching goal in contributing
to ISAF is to prevent Afghanistan from relapsing into a failed
state that provides a safe haven for terrorists and terrorist
organizations. Canada remains committed to the campaign against
terrorism and, with our allies, will make a major contribution
to the stabilization and reconstruction of Afghanistan. Canada
aims to help Afghanistan become the following:
- A stable nation that is no longer a haven for terrorism;
- A country that meets the needs of its people; and
- A fully integrated part of the international community.
Afghanistan's full and sustained recovery is key to
eliminating the threat of terrorism and achieving greater
international security and stability. The reconstruction
and rehabilitation of Afghanistan will require a considerable
and sustained commitment, and Canada has extended the CF
mission in Afghanistan until February 2009.
CF personnel deployed as part of OP ATHENA comprise the following
units (all figures approximate):
- Overall 2,000 CF personnel support the ISAF mission:
- Brigadier-General David Fraser, Commander of 1 Canadian
Mechanized Brigade Group (Edmonton, Alta.), is the Commander
of the Canadian-led Multi National Brigade for Regional
Command South (MNB RC (South) in Afghanistan. He
is responsible for Canadian and ISAF operations, leading
a force of about 6,000 soldiers from Canada and seven other
nations including: the United Kingdom, the Netherlands,
the U.S., Australia, Denmark, Romania, and Estonia. He
will turn over command to the Netherlands in November 2006;
- 200 CF members with the Multi-National Brigade Headquarters
and Signal Squadron (MNB HQ Sig Sqn) in Kandahar.
Constructed primarily from 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade
Group Headquarters and Signal Squadron (1 CMBG HQ and Sig
Sqn) Edmonton, however it also includes many professional
and dedicated Regular and Reserve Force members from across
Canada. Its role is to assist Brigadier-General Fraser
in accomplishing his mission and provide him and his Staff
with the communications necessary to exercise command and
control over the MNB RC (South) in Afghanistan.
- 300 CF members with the National Command Element (NCE)
in Kandahar. Primarily composed of elements of 2 Canadian
Mechanized Brigade Group based in Petawawa, On, the NCE
also contains members from various units within the Land
Force Central Area, as well as health services personnel
from across Canada;
- 300 CF members in the National Support Element (NSE)
in Kandahar, primarily from 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade
Group and 2 Service Battalion, also from Petawawa;
- 250 CF members with the Theatre Support Element (TSE)
in Southwest Asia;
- 70 Health Service Support (HSS) personnel at the Multinational
Medical Unit (MMU) at Kandahar Airfield comprised of personnel
from 2 Field Ambulance and 1 Canadian Field Hospital in
Petawawa, On., and other Health Services units from across
Canada;
- A Battle Group of 970 in Kandahar, primarily from 1st
Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (1RCR), which includes:
- Soldiers from 1 RCR and 2nd Battalion, Princess
Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry based out
of CFB Petawawa and CFB Shilo, in Manitoba, respectively;
- An engineer squadron from 2 Combat Engineer Regiment
(2CER) in Petawawa;
- An artillery battery from 2 Royal Canadian Horse
Artillery (2RCHA) in Petawawa;
- An armoured reconnaissance troop, from The Royal
Canadian Dragoons (RCD) in Petawawa;
- A Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Unit comprised
primarily of personnel from 408 Tactical Helicopter
Squadron based in Edmonton, AB, and 5e Régiment
d'artillerie légère du Canada based
in Valcartier, PQ.
- Operational Mentor Liaison Teams (OMLTs) from Land
Forces Quebec Area (LFQA), partnering with Afghan
National Army (ANA) Infantry Kandak Battalion and
ANA Corps HQ
The Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT)
Since August 2005, a Canadian PRT has operated in Kandahar,
where it is expected to remain until February 2009. The PRT
brings together elements from the Canadian Forces (CF), Foreign
Affairs and International Trade Canada, the Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA), and civilian police led by the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in an integrated Canadian
effort known as the “All of Government”approach. Approximately
220 personnel are based at the PRT site at Camp Nathan Smith
in Kandahar City.
Under Operation Athena, the Canadian contribution to ISAF, the PRT
reinforces the authority of the Afghan government in Kandahar Province, assisting
in the stabilization and development of the region. It monitors security, promotes
Afghan government policies and priorities with local authorities, and facilitates
security sector reforms.
The PRT is located at Camp Nathan Smith in Kandahar City. The PRT comprises
approximately 220 military and civilian personnel, drawn largely from Land
Forces Central Area (LFCA) and 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2 CMBG)
based in Petawawa, Ont. The PRT includes:
- The PRT Commander's Tactical Headquarters Group,
which provides protection and mobility to the PRT Commander
and his staff;
- A Civil-Military Cooperation Platoon from Land Force
Central Area;
- A Military Police Platoon from 2 CMBG in Petawawa;
- Health and medical support from 1 Field Ambulance (1
Fd Amb);
- Service and support elements drawn from across Canada;
and
- Other specialized elements from various CF units across
Canada.
Operation ARCHER (Approximately
35 Personnel)
The Canadian contribution to the U.S. led Operation Enduring
Freedom in Afghanistan is known as Operation ARCHER.
The CF has assigned Brigadier-General Daniel Pepin and 3
other Canadians to the Combined Joint Task Force 76 (CJTF-76)
headquarters at Bagram Airfield. CJTF-76 is an operational
headquarters for the eastern regional commands in Afghanistan,
to learn more about CJTF-76 visit their website.
Since the fall of the Taliban in December 2001, the International
Community has been rebuilding Afghanistan's infrastructure,
institutions, government, and army. This effort involves
more than just supplying weapons and equipment; Canada has
contributed to the U.S. led effort to build a security infrastructure
that includes operational forces, sustaining institutions,
and the general staff and ministries to direct these organizations.
The Combined Security Transition Command -Afghanistan
(CSTC-A) (formerly the Office of Security Cooperation - Afghanistan)
is currently re-forming and building both the Afghan National
Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP). The Canadian
Forces has assigned Brigadier General Gary O'Brien
and 13 other Canadian officers to the CSTC-A in March 2006.
To learn more about CSTC-A visit their website.
The CF has also contributed approximately 15 personnel to
act as instructors involved in the training of the Afghan
National Army at the Canadian Afghan National Training Centre
Detachment (C ANTC Det) in Kabul.
Operation ARGUS (Approximately
15 Personnel)
Strategic Advisory Team -Afghanistan (SAT -A)
Since September 2005 the Canadian Forces has, on a bi-lateral
basis, provided a team of strategic military planners to
support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
in developing key national strategies and mechanisms for
the effective implementation of those strategies. The
team is called the Strategic Advisory Team - Afghanistan,
or SAT-A.
The Strategic Advisory Team consists of 14 Canadian Forces
members and civilian employees, augmented by a CIDA officer
to advise on development issues. The
team includes a small command and support element, two teams of strategic
planners, a defence analyst and a strategic communications
advisor. The composition,
size and capabilities of the team are adjusted as necessary.
The Strategic Advisory Team, in consultation with the Canadian Ambassador,
the Head of Aid and with a senior representative of the Afghan government,
provides direct planning support to government ministries and working groups
in the development and governance realms. To date, the team has
worked extensively with the Afghanistan's National Development Strategy Working
Group, Public Administration Reform, Civil Service Gender Equity Policy,
and with the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development.
The teams are embedded in their partner Afghan Government
ministries and agencies and work under Afghan leadership.
The basic method of operation
is that the team assists working level officials integrate the substantive
ideas of the Afghan leadership and international experts into cohesive
strategic frameworks. Working closely with the Ambassador, CIDA and the Afghan
Government, SAT-A is an example of the "whole of government" concept
at work so that Canada can maximize the value of its contribution. The planning
team members bring a very wide range of training, education, experience, and
military strategic planning skills to bear on the resolution of complex civil
problems.
Are we making a difference?
Yes. The greatest improvements in Afghanistan since the
fall of the Taliban regime can be seen in the Kabul area,
which was the initial focus of ISAF's security efforts.
Development efforts can only flourish in a secure environment,
but establishing security takes time, success in Southern
Afghanistan is best measured over the long term.
With the support of the international community Afghanistan
has made remarkable strides since the fall of the Taliban
Regime with:
- A new constitution;
- Successful presidential and legislative elections;
- More than four million children enrolled in school;
- Reforms begun in defence, justice, and finance;
- Significant progress made in demining; and
- The reintegration of nearly three million Afghan refugees.
Conclusion
In its participation in ISAF and Operation ENDURING
FREEDOM, Canada's overarching goal in Afghanistan
is to prevent the country from relapsing into a failed
state that gives terrorist and terrorist organizations
a safe haven.
Canadian efforts in Afghanistan have contributed significantly to the overall
consolidation of peace and the improvement of human security in the region.
The next phase of Canadian operations in Afghanistan will be to continue to
help improve the quality of life for the Afghan people, and to ensure that
the progress made is sustainable in the long term.
There are significant risks involved in these types of
operations, but the Canadian Forces remain one of the best
trained, most experienced and professional militaries in
the world. The men and women of the CF are brave, well led,
well trained, well equipped, and fully resolved to continue
their mission in Afghanistan.
*Article reprinted from http://www.forces.gc.ca/ |
