The countdown has begun for troops in Afghanistan

2014... this is ultimately the date chosen by American officials for the withdrawal from Afghanistan. But the "transition" phase begins immediately. With the transformation of combat forces into training forces. Subject debated in Lisbon today, at the NATO summit.

The first test of this change: the Canadian forces. Canada had already decided to withdraw its troops (2800 men) from southern Afghanistan, from Kandahar, in 2011. This decision is maintained. But the government of Peter MacKay has decided to maintain a training mission, 950 strong (800 trainers and 150 support staff). "Canada will send from 2011 up to 950 military instructors and support personnel to facilities around Kabul“, confirmed the Minister of Defense. But also in the rest of the country … without a doubt

This solution makes it possible to respect the decision taken in 2008 to withdraw the troops but does not displease the NATO allies (eg the United States and the United Kingdom) because, in fact, Canada maintains a strong presence. Incidentally, as the Canadian media explain to us, this makes it possible to dispense with the authorization of Parliament, the presence in Afghanistan no longer falling under a "combat mission".

Canada also plans to devote C$100 million per year during the last three years of the troops' mission to fund humanitarian aid programs.