MONTREAL - Afghanistan's ambassador to Canada says the country's contributions to his nation are a 'positive influence.'
Omar Samad spoke yesterday at an international conference in Montreal which brought together diplomats and military experts to discuss Canada's role in Afghanistan.
Samad told reporters many Canadians are beginning to understand what the Afghan mission is all about.
He said Canadians are there to help the Afghan people and their government become self-sufficient as soon as possible.
Canada's troop commitment to Afghanistan expires in February 2009, and the ambassador called on Canadians to wait for signs of progress.
Stephen Wallace, vice-president of the Canadian International Development Agency's Afghanistan Task force, says there has been remarkable progress in the fields of education and health.
Since Canada began its involvement in Afghanistan, 70 of its soldiers and one diplomat have died.
