LAVIII do security during the Construction of a Road in Panjwayi

As the mission is currently in its eighth year, coalition forces are now faced with the daunting task of rebuilding a war shattered state, in preparation for the future withdrawal of combat forces.  This is in line with “Jus Post Bellum,” a theory of moral reasoning which asserts that victorious parties have a responsibility to rebuild the invaded state after war has ended, hence “Justice After War.”  This however poses a particularly difficult challenge: hostilities have not terminated and thus Canada, along with the coalition forces, is essentially attempting to implement development projects in a warzone.

Canada recognizes the necessity of “winning the hearts and minds” of the Afghan people, and we do this through development. With development projects Canada is essentially providing the services and security that Afghanis both crave and need. These projects articulate two things: firstly, that Canada’s motivations for our involvement in Afghanistan are not fuelled purely by war, but rather Canada is dedicated to making the lives of Afghans better.  And secondly, that because coalition troops are dedicated to providing the very necessities that Afghanis have thus far been denied by the Taliban, they can trust that the ongoing war has their best interest in mind. That is the developmental perspective; however, the balance between war and development priorities is perilous, and development is thus matched by security interests. The logic follows that if Canada can earn the trust and respect of local Afghanis, they will, in turn, be more willing to aid coalition troops in the ongoing war effort.    Given that these two priorities, development and security, are often characterized as contradictory, it is easy to see why the motivation for Canada’s development projects is a key topic of debate. Proponents assure that Canada has benevolent motivations, and that aid projects are humanitarian in nature. However, sceptics assert that such development is merely a strategy in the ongoing war. Regardless of which side you take in this argument, the fact is that development is occurring in Afghanistan, and this undeniably constitutes progress. As such, the reasoning behind Canada’s continued involvement in Afghanistan increasingly becomes developmental in character.

During the 2007-2008 fiscal years the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) spent $280 million on development, including Canada’s three signature projects: the construction of the Dahla Dam, the eradication of Polio, and the strengthening of the institutional capacity of the Afghan Ministry of Education, which includes the training of up to 3000 teachers, and the construction/repair of 50 schools.  In addition to these projects, is the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team (KPRT), which Canada assumed responsibility for in August 2005. The team of 330 Canadians is tasked with providing security and assistance to the Afghan National Government, in its attempts to rebuild the province, provide services to its citizens and extend its legitimacy beyond Kabul. The KPRT engages in a wide variety of projects including: the training of the Afghan National Police (ANP), the creation of Village Medical Outreaches (health and veterinary clinics for locals to attend, free of charge), the offering of literacy courses for women, and the offering of assistance in the construction of schools and other vital municipal infrastructure.

In sum, while Canada initially entered Afghanistan to respond to the security threat of international terrorism, our sustained involvement is largely justified in developmental terms.