US wants Canada to stay in Kabul, suggests switch in role

Canada has reiterated that it would end its military mission in Afghanistan by 2011, however they are considering US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's advice of switching to a training role.

Canada has reiterated that it would end its military mission in Afghanistan by 2011, however they are considering US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's advice of switching to a training role.

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In response to Clinton's request for "some form of support to continue" from Canada in Afghanistan, spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said that their position has not changed, but reports sourcing to government officials claimed that they "are examining Canada’s potential non-military role post-2011".

Clinton talking to CTV news yesterday suggested the Canadian military to "switch more into a training role instead of a combat role, a logistics support role instead of the front-line combat."

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said Canada does not have the appetite to keep soldiers in Afghanistan longer.

Canada has lost 141 soldiers and one diplomat in Afghanistan since it first sent troops there after the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

Canada increased its deployment in Afghanistan after declining a US request to send troops to Iraq.

The Globe and Mail newspaper said last week that Washington would ask Canada to keep as many as 600 soldiers in the country to serve as military trainers.

In response, Canada reiterated its position that it will withdraw all 2,900 soldiers currently stationed in the southern city of Kandahar by the end of 2011.

Canada's Parliament has mandated that the military mission in Kandahar end in 2011.