Harper too optimistic on Afghan results: Kandahar governor Wesa says PM's message likely aimed at domestic audience, while Musharraf opposes military withdrawal. By Anca Gurzu Published June 15, 2011

View story Email Comments To the Editor

Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf says the end of Canada's combat mission in Kandahar is unwise, while the governor of Kandahar believes Prime Minister Stephen Harper was too optimistic when he said Afghanistan is no longer a threat to the international community.

"Maybe...Mr. Harper is an optimistic man, and I am also an optimistic man, but we shouldn't be that confident, because the Afghan situation is pretty delicate," Tooryalai Wesa told Embassy in an interview in Montreal during the Internal Economic Forum of the Americas on June 8.

"I don't know him closely, but this is—from my perspective—a bit of an optimistic statement at this time of Afghanistan's situation."

During a one-day surprise trip to Afghanistan on May 30, Mr. Harper said the country "is no longer a source of global terrorism." While terrorism should still be a cause of concern for both Canada and the rest of the world, the prime minister said, the Asian nation "does not represent a geostrategic risk to the world."

Canadian troops will start withdrawing from Kandahar starting next month after six years of often intense combat and counter-insurgency operations that have cost the lives of more than 150 soldiers, a diplomat and several NGO workers. Questions are already being raised about Canada's legacy in the province after so much blood and treasure has been expended.

In light of the upcoming withdrawal, Mr. Wesa said the prime minister's comments might have been aimed at a domestic Canadian audience that is looking for answers and reassurance that the effort was worthwhile and successful.

"[The comments] will be of more support for the Canadian troops," he said, "because maybe some of the Canadians are asking the question: 'What happened? Are we done? Why did we come and why are we leaving?' So maybe this is something to convince them that the Afghans are getting better."

'Good days and bad days'

Not, Mr. Wesa said, that the situation hasn't improved in Kandahar. The governor, who took up his position in December 2008 after having lived for years in British Columbia, said he has seen numerous improvements, particularly in terms of security, since he took office. For example, he said, he is now able to drive to some places that before he was only able to reach by helicopter.

Mr. Wesa also enthusiastically listed a number of successful initiatives on the development side, such as a new science laboratory at Kandahar University, partly sponsored by Canada's development agency, a new library and museum in the province, more paved roads, dozens of new published books by Kandahari historians and poets, as well as some increased trade.

But Mr. Wesa has also been a firsthand witness to—and target of—the ongoing security volatility himself. At the beginning of May, gunmen launched a series of attacks across Kandahar City, including on the governor's compound. "There's some good days and bad days," Mr. Wesa acknowledged. But "we are on the right track, there is no doubt. We are following the right path, but it is a slow drive that takes some time, that takes energy, and some effort, but the track is right."

There has been recent talk from some allies such as the UK that with the death of Osama bin Laden, now might be a time to reconsider withdrawing from Afghanistan. But Mr. Wesa said it's not yet time to say the mission has been accomplished.

"I am note sure if eradicating terrorism will be a one-person issue," he said. "As we can see, bin Laden was not alone. There were other associates and people around him. He will be replaced. Al-Qaeda will still be there."

Although, Mr. Wesa said he is happy the nearly 3,000 Canadian troops who have become a fixture in Kandahar since 2005 will soon return to their families as Canada transitions to a training mission in Kabul, Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif. However, he also said there will be a vacancy in Kandahar after their departure.

Meanwhile, former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf said that while Canada's decision to leave Kandahar and end combat operations in Afghanistan was up to the government, "I personally don't think it's a wise step."

The former Pakistani president, who was speaking at a news conference at the same event as Mr. Wesa, said setting an end-date to the mission instead of an end-state is counter-productive and emboldens the insurgents.

"It must be effect-related," he said. "We cannot leave Afghanistan in an unstable situation.... We don't want such instability there because the biggest gainers will be the terrorists, al-Qaeda and the Taliban."

Mr. Musharraf described Canadian troops, along with the US, Australian and British troops, as "combat-worthy."

"If we throw combat-worthy troops out of Afghanistan, it certainly wouldn't make me happy," he said.

agurzu@embassymag.ca