Karzai thanks Canada for its contribution in Afghanistan
By DPA - Mar 14, 2006

Kabul - Afghan president Hamid Karzai on Tuesday thanked the Canadian government for its contribution to reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. Speaking to reporters in his fortified presidential palace after meeting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Karzai said that his country was grateful for thousands of Canadian soldiers serving in Afghanistan.

According to Karzai, 2,300 Canadian soldiers are currently based in Afghanistan\'s southern province of Kandahar, the main stronghold of the former Taliban spiritual leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar.

\'They (Canadian soldiers) suffered causalities - a diplomat was killed recently by suicide bombers,\' Karzai added. \'Please convey to your people the immense gratitude from the people of Afghanistan, for contributing in money and soldiers and choosing Afghanistan to be the biggest recipient of Canadian help,\' Karzai added.

Harper said that Afghanistan is receiving the biggest aid, both humanitarian and military from Canada. He added that he had also talked with Karzai about challenges facing Afghanistan, such as drug trafficking and infrastructural challenges.

Asked why Canadian soldiers are in Afghanistan, Harper said: \'If we do not control the security situations in countries like Afghanistan, we will see our own security situation diminished.\'

Karzai said that the international community came to Afghanistan after 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington for clear reasons, \'To fight terrorism, to eliminate terrorism and liberate Afghanistan from that terrorism.\' \'So Afghanistan and Canada are connected in one common objective, the common objective is the fight against the terror as it affects us and affects you,\' Karzai said.

Harper said that later Tuesday, he would meet his counterpart in Pakistan and would discuss Pakistan\'s role in the security situation in the area. \'Pakistan has been a valued ally of Canada and the rest of the international community in the fight against terror,\' Harper said. Relation between Afghanistan and Pakistan have recently soured after Kabul pointed that Taliban fighters were entering Afghanistan from Pakistan.

\'Terrorism can affect any one anywhere any time. The reason we are fighting terrorism is to secure the world. It is extremely important that our brothers in Pakistan join us in an intense and systematic manner in this fight,\' Karzai added.

Karzais also said that a stable Afghanistan would benefit Pakistan to a large extend. \'Afghanistan\'s peace and stability provides the best dividends to Pakistan. Earlier their trade with Afghanistan was only twenty five million dollars, now the Pakistan exports to Afghanistan are nearly 1.2 billion dollars. Then you must expect cooperation in the same level and aspect.\'