Harper reaffirms end of Canadian military mission in Afghanistan in 2014

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-05/22/c_131603497.htm

OTTAWA, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Canada will end its military mission in Afghanistan on March 31, 2014, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said at the conclusion of the two-day North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Chicago Monday.

"The end date is firm and final," he said, adding that he wished it were earlier.

However, Harper announced that Canada committed 110 million Canadian dollars (108 million U.S. dollars) annually over three years, from 2015 to 2017, to support the Afghanistan National Security Forces.

"This is a transition to Afghan responsibility, but none of us will rest," he said in Chicago. "We will make the contributions necessary to ensure the Taliban does not reassert control over this country."

Harper added that "the longer a foreign intervention stays, eventually the less likely its success becomes."

Australia, Britain and Germany were among other countries that committed at least 100 million U.S. dollars annually to the Afghan military.

It's estimated that Afghanistan will require 4.1 billion U.S. dollars a year to run its security forces once the NATO-led coalition concludes in two years.

Harper told reporters that Canada would also provide development assistance to Afghanistan, but requires strict accountability by Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government on how the funds will be used.

"I was very frank with President Karzai today as I have been in the past that Afghan governance must improve and we have very real expectations in that regard."

Canada, which announced the end of its involvement in combat missions last year, currently has about 950 soldiers in Afghanistan training the country's military.

The decade-long war in Afghanistan has claimed the lives of more than 3,000 foreign troops, including 158 Canadians.