Defence Minister Peter MacKay says there is no plan to extend the Canadian mission in Afghanistan past the current end date of December 2011.

"Not from a military perspective," MacKay -- just back from the NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania -- told CTV's Question Period on Sunday.

"What we will do continue to train and continue to work to ensure that the Afghan army will be able to secure their own country and their borders."

Development work will continue well past 2011, he said.

MacKay pronounced himself pleased that NATO came through at the summit with Canada's demand for 1,000 more combat troops -- and admitted Canada had a "pretty good idea" that it would get the soldiers.

"What we have to do, though, is make sure we have sufficient equipment, so we're looking for additional helicopters and aerial drones," he said.

"And I don't think the conversation should stop with respects to additional troops to the south where they are needed ... the truth of the matter is that (Kandahar) is the valve for the Taliban coming in from the Pakistan border," MacKay said.

"We want to ensure we're going to be able to not only make advances, but hold the ground and allow for development and the important diplomatic work in that region as well."

Canada will be getting 1,000 U.S. troops in addition to the 3,200 Marines deployed there for seven months. France will be sending at least 700 troops into eastern Afghanistan.

Canada will also be procuring some unmanned aerial drones and helicopters from the U.S. Poland will also be providing two helicopters.

U.S. troops currently stay in Afghanistan for a 15-month period.

MacKay said there have been no internal decisions made on changing the six-month deployment period for Canadian troops.

"I'm not sure where that's coming from, quite frankly," he said about any speculation.

MacKay said the Armed Forces are not having any problems with recruiting new soldiers.

"All indications are that our numbers will continue to grow," he said, but added that will only continue if soldiers feel the government is behind them.