In a match watched with more than passing interest because of events on the global political map, Afghanistan scored a convincing 36-run victory over USA at the Maple Leaf North-East Ground, a win which also meant they leapfrogged them into second place. Opting to bat, Afghanistan were given a solid start by Iqbal Maliki who scored 72 off 102 balls, comprising four fours and a six. A five-wicket haul from Asad Ghous in the middle stages helped USA wrest the advantage, before thirties from wicketkeeper Khoshal Rasuli and Ayan Aminzai lifted Afghanistan to 241.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta yesterday met with William Crosbie , Canada's new Ambassador to Kabul.

Foreign Minister Spanta congratulated Ambassador Crosbie on his appointment and praised his predecessor's efforts as Ambassador to Afghanistan.  He also expressed gratitude for Canada's contribution to Afghanistan's stabilization efforts, including the areas of security and development. Additionally, Foreign Minister Spanta underscored the importance of sustained and increased engagement of the international community for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The Canada's new Ambassador to Kabul reiterated his government's continued commitment to Afghanistan's stability and development.

As Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Canada gets set to move to France, he reflects on the mission in Khandahar and his relationship with the Harper government

OTTAWA — As Canadians came to grips with the sacrifice of their soldiers in Afghanistan and their increasingly complicated mission, Omar Samad was both the face and an elegant spokesman for a war-torn country.

As part of International Women's Week, the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation and the Vice-Chair of Canada’s Cabinet

Ottawa – The Ambassador of Afghanistan to Canada attended a New Year festivity sponsored by the University of Ottawa’s Afghan Student Association on Sunday.

NEW YORK (PAN): The Afghan ambassador has praised Canada as a role-model for all those who want to help his country, devastated by decades of strife.

"Not only is Canada ranked among the top five donors, delivers on its pledges and is a force for stability in Kandahar, it is also becoming a role model for many others ," Omar Samad said in Vancouver.

The Open Society Institute and the University of Ottawa/l'Université d'Ottawa, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Ottawa, are pleased to announce that applications are being accepted for the Afghan Communications Scholarship.

The Afghan Communications Scholarship provides fully funded fellowships to qualified citizens of Afghanistan to complete a two year MA in Communications at the University of Ottawa/l'Université d'Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada. The program provides the opportunity for post-graduate study in Canada for journalists and communications professionals in early or mid-career who demonstrate both academic and professional excellence and the potential to become leaders, decision-makers and agents of change.

Applications are due May 1, 2008.

For more information, and to download an application, please visit:

The Open Society Institute and the University of Ottawa/l'Université d'Ottawa, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Ottawa, are pleased to announce that applications are being accepted for the Afghan Communications Scholarship.

The Afghan Communications Scholarship provides fully funded fellowships to qualified citizens of Afghanistan to complete a two year MA in Communications at the University of Ottawa/l'Université d'Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada. The program provides the opportunity for post-graduate study in Canada for journalists and communications professionals in early or mid-career who demonstrate both academic and professional excellence and the potential to become leaders, decision-makers and agents of change.

Applications are due May 1, 2008.

For more information, and to download an application, please visit:

په کانادا کی زمونژ د گرانو هیوادوالو حخه او خاصتاً د سوداگری او بزنس خاوندانو حخه هیله کیژی چی په دغه ملی یووالی حرکت کی برخه واخلی او زمونژ د بیوزلو خویندو او ورونو لپاره د ممکنو منابعو په وسیله بشری مرسته وکری او په عاجله توگه افغانستان ته ولیژی. ـ

از متخصصین افغان احترامانه تقاضا میگردد که درخواست شانرا ضمیمه بیوگرافی خویش به آدرس ذیل ارسال نمایند: ـ

A new poll of nearly 1,600 Afghans shows the majority feel safer than they did five years ago, and approve of the direction their country is taking, thanks to the presence of international security forces from countries such as Canada.
Results from the Environics Research poll, conducted in partnership with the CBC, show 60 per cent of Afghans surveyed believe the presence of foreign troops has been good for their country.

As well, 51 per cent said they feel their country is headed in the right direction, compared to 28 per cent who responded that it's headed in the wrong direction. The remaining interviewees saw no change or didn't know.

for more detail: http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/afghanistan/afghan-survey2007.html

Hamid Karzai's former chief of staff demands a retraction from the NDP following the party's claim that the Canadian military penned a speech given by the Afghan president

Kate Lunau | Sep 27, 2007 MACLEANS Magaznie

Denouncing recent allegations by the NDP as "baseless" and "deeply offensive," the Afghan president's former chief of staff is to send a letter to party leadership calling for a retraction, according to Afghanistan's ambassador to Canada Omar Samad.

The letter, which Samad told Macleans.ca will be sent "within the next day or two," follows accusations from the NDP that the Canadian military penned a speech given by Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Canadian Parliament on Sept. 22, 2006. In the speech, Karzai praised the Canadian military effort in Afghanistan, and denounced NDP leader Jack Layton for his opposition to the mission.

Jawad Ludin, who was Karzai's chief of staff at the time the speech was given and is now the ambassador to Norway, wrote the letter to the NDP. The letter will not be publicly available, Samad said. He noted that Ludin "was responsible for putting [the speech] together with the help of Afghan diplomats and senior advisors." While preparing the speech, Ludin requested statistics on the Canadian military presence and development aid to Afghanistan, Samad said.

In an interview with Macleans.ca, Samad reiterated his outrage at the NDP's allegations. "My initial reaction was to laugh about this, and then to feel somewhat insulted," Samad said. "I hope the NDP realizes they have jumped to a conclusion that is not accurate, and there may also have been some inaccuracy in the report they saw."

Karzai reviewed the speech in question several times before delivering it before Parliament, and at times spoke spontaneously without referring to his notes, Samad said.

"There is a lot of bilateral discussion that goes on prior to an important visit, or a speech or communiqué," Samad emphasized. "To say that some raw data or statistics being given constitutes writing a speech is far-fetched."