Canadian money is helping put the finishing touches on one of the most important roadways in southern Afghanistan, an act officials hope will provide both symbolic and real progress.
Highway 4 is one of the most travelled roads in Afghanistan, linking Kandahar city to Spin Boldak, a border town and major port of entry to Pakistan -- Afghanistan's most important but least trusted trading partner.
The road leads to Quetta, considered by many to be a city of refuge for the Taliban in Pakistan's Baluchistan province. While U.S. special forces and Afghan troops try to patrol about 600 kilometres of border in the district, it's still very insecure.
"Cross-border terrorism and violence is here, many violence, many terrorists is here -- they come from Pakistan," said Afghan border guard Ahmed Sadullah.
Canada has a role in mentoring Afghan customs and border officials. Searching just one jingle truck, the Afghan equivalents of a Canadian 18-wheeler, can take up to eight hours. As a result, many pass through without inspection.
The highway which links Spin Boldak with Kandahar City, has the site of numerous roadside bombings and suicide attacks which have killed Canadian soldiers and many Afghan civilians.
As a result, Canadian officials think Spin Boldak -- where Canadian troops had been operating last year before things heated up in the Panjwaii district west of Kandahar -- has become Canada's problem too.
"If people genuinely believe that the government is there to do the best it can for them, then they'll come to the government for security solutions rather than turning to a local Taliban commander," said Gavin Buchan of Foreign Affairs Canada.
They visited Spin Boldak recently to meet community leaders.
Spin Boldak, the city and surrounding district, are part of Kandahar province. Canada has responsibility for reconstruction and development in the province.
The road isn't the only Canadian-sponsored project. There are more than 30 projects underway in the area involving health, water, food business and rural development.
"The list of needs is huge and anywhere you go they always have a list. But the message that I send is sit down together again and prioritize, what do you want to do first," said Helen Kadi, a development director with the Canadian International Development Agency.
Local business leaders said the road was the priority. The road is also considered a "strategic transport link" in terms of connecting the ring road around Afghanistan with major border-crossing points.
Part of the $200 million in additional funding for reconstruction and development that the Conservative government announced in late February is going to towards completing the vital road linking the two countries.
In a recent red ribbon ceremony, Kandahar Governor Assadullah Khalid announced a $15-million contribution from Canada to help pave the final 42 kilometres to the Pakistan border.
"One local company has the contract this is very good for us, one local company from Kandahar," said Khalid.
He said it means a thousand workers drawing a paycheque -- and not from the Taliban.
"The results are here and we continue to work very hard with the Afghan people to make sure they're seeing results," said Lt. Col. Bob Chamberlain, commander of the Provincial Reconstruction Team.
"Sometimes we take one step forward and some days it's three or four."
With a report from CTV's Lisa LaFlamme
