Canadian Troops In Afghanistan To Focus On Rebuilding

November 27, 2009 6:25 a.m. EST

Kandahar, Afghanistan (AHN) - Canadian troops in Afghanistan will concentrate on reconstruction and development with the pending arrival in the country of more U.S. troops. About 25,000 to 34,000 American soldiers are expected to be sent soon to Kandahar, where the bulk of Canadian forces are operating.

The addition of American troops is part of the new Afghan strategy U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to reveal next week. It could be seen as a taste of the pending pullout of Canadian soldiers in 2011, which is mandated by the House of Commons.

There are currently 2,830 Canadians that comprise the Joint Task Force Afghanistan, counting those deployed on Operation ATHENA and Operation ARCHER.

A new commander was assigned last week to head Canada's troops in Afghanistan. Brigadier General Jonathan Vance transferred the command of the task force to BGen Daniel Menard on Nov. 19 at the Kandahar Airfield.