TOM CLARK: An ominous hint has turned up on the internet of just how perilous Afghanistan could be for the Canadian soldiers who are now arriving there. They're deployed just outside of Kandahar, once the stronghold of the Taliban and still regarded as a treacherous region. The new Canadian assignment has drawn a hostile reference on a jihadist website. We get more on this from CTV's Ottawa bureau chief Robert Fife.

ROBERT FIFE [Reporter]: As Canadian troops left Edmonton for Afghanistan, a sign of the peril that lies ahead. This jihadist website warns Taliban and al- Qaeda fighters in southern Afghanistan that Canadian troops are on the way.

OMAR SAMAD [Afghanistan Ambassador to Canada]: They want to send threat messages and they want to frighten people and they want to create political, domestic political discord.

FIFE: Regarded as a mouthpiece for al-Qaeda, this website posts pictures of dead American soldiers and beheadings of western hostages. In the name of Allah, the website sounds a warning that Canadians are helping the coalition of occupying forces in Kandahar, the heart of the insurgency. Prime Minister Paul Martin says Canada won't be intimidated by jihadist threats.

PAUL MARTIN [Canadian Prime Minister]: The fight against terrorism has got to be taken beyond the borders of any individual country.

FIFE: Taliban led violence is spreading in Afghanistan, and this security expert says Canadian troops will be seen as invaders.

ERIC MARGOLIS [Security Expert]: Many Afghans are going to take this in a very angry way, and they're going to regard Canadians just as much targets as the Americans.

FIFE: But other security experts say Canadians should be proud that Canada helped liberate Afghanistan from the Taliban.

MARTIN RUDNER [Canadian Centre of Intelligence and Security Studies]:
Fermented it's own people. It inspired and supported terrorism.

FIFE: The Afghan ambassador says his country is grateful to Canadian troops on the front line.

SAMAD: They're helping us to rebuild our country. A country that saw nothing but war and devastation over 25 years or so.

FIFE: The Canadian Armed Forces expects to take casualties in Kandahar, but officials say it won't deter them from sending another 1,500 soldiers to the war-torn country early next year. Robert Fife, CTV News, Ottawa.

The Office of the Spokesperson reports that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, H.E. Dr. A. Abdullah, sent a message of sympathy to his British counterpart, H.E. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, expressing solidarity with the people of the United Kingdom and condolences to the families of the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in London.

Dr. Abdullah said that Afghans are outraged by the indiscriminate brutal bombings that took the lives of many innocent civilians in London. He added that the Muslim people of Afghanistan - long a victim of international terrorism themselves - condemn the bombings and consider them a distortion of the Islamic faith perpetrated by misled fanatics.

“Unfortunately, terrorism has once again shown its true face to the entire world,” said the Afghan Foreign Minister. He urged all Muslim communities and peace-loving people to stand firm and committed to wage an effective fight against this global menace.