Toronto – At the invitation of the Embassy of Afghanistan and the Afghan General Consulate in Toronto, Shaheed Day on the fifth anniversary of the assassination of Shaheed Ahmad Shah Massoud, Afghanistan’s National Hero, was held at the Acrobat Hall in Toronto on Saturday.

Toronto – At the behest of Afghan businesses in Canada, more than 150 business people gathered in Toronto Saturday to launch the Canada-Afghanistan Business Council, and help promote trade, business and investment ties between the two nations.

In the past few days, as pitched battles take place to liberate Taliban-occupied districts in southern Afghanistan, during which precious lives have been lost to uphold higher principles, thought-provoking comments are being made in political circles about Afghanistan and the Canadian role there. Obviously, everyone is fully entitled to their views and the continued debate is healthy. But when it comes to addressing complex Afghan political dynamics and presenting new formulas, one should do so with a solid reading of Afghan history and an acute appreciation for the realities on the ground.