KABUL, Afghanistan - The accidental shooting deaths of two Afghan children by Canadian troops and threats of revenge from their father are unfortunate but such incidents are becoming increasingly rare, says Canada's outgoing ambassador to Afghanistan.
With his mandate slated to end this week, Arif Lalani reflected on his 15 months at the helm of Canada's diplomatic efforts in Afghanistan during an interview with The Canadian Press.
He noted that civilian deaths were a hot topic when he first took office in April 2007.
Human Rights Watch says 434 civilians were killed in Afghanistan by coalition air strikes and ground fire in 2007. In the same year, 950 civilians were killed by insurgents, according to the New York-based organization.
But Lalani says NATO has taken remedial steps.
"If you look at the last three to six months, you will see that NATO forces have reviewed their procedures as they constantly do and you see that the issue has become less of an issue," Lalani said in his heavily guarded office in the Canadian Embassy in Kabul.
The young children were killed Monday when Canadian troops opened fire on a car they feared was about to attack their convoy. Their grieving father told reporters in Kandahar city on Thursday that he would "kill Canadians" if he gets the chance.
"When you lose a loved one, it's natural to be angry, to be resentful, to blame someone," Lalani said.
"But the evidence is also pretty clear: one, we've had progress on civilian casualties; and two, by and large, people have responded very well when we have these rare incidents, particularly in the Canadian case."
Calling it the "toughest job he's every done," Lalani said being Canada's ambassador to Afghanistan has also been "one of the most satisfying."
Despite a recent escalation of violence in the south where Canadian troops are based, Lalani said he's confident Afghan forces will be able to stand on their own when Canada's military commitment in Kandahar ends in 2011.
A six-point plan unveiled in Ottawa in June aimed at building Afghan security forces and local governance, improving essential services like water by repairing the Dalha Dam in Arghandab district -- one of Canada's "signature projects" -- boosting development and addressing violence along the Pakistan-Afghan border.
These are key to Canada's exit strategy, he said.
"By the time our mission ends in 2011, will Afghan forces be able to maintain the status quo? I think they will from what I've been seeing," he said.
"What we have is I think a very strong, very focused strategy working backwards from 2011."
He said Canada has made significant strides in training the Afghan army and police, and that Canada has become a major diplomatic player in Afghanistan.
Canada has been vigilant in its efforts to ensure rigorous monitoring of detainees turned over to Afghan forces by Canadian troops following allegations of abuse, he said. It was a controversy he had to deal with early on in his mandate.
The ambassador said a focus on development has meant more children are in school, the economy is growing and infrastructure is improving.
"We also know that there's a long way to go and the challenges here are large and the solutions aren't going to be overnight," he said.
"I think what we need to look at is that we are we heading in the right direction, and I think we are."
The 40-year-old diplomat, whose previous postings took him to Jordan and Iraq, will head next to England to study at the London School of Economics. His final week's agenda is packed with last-minute farewell meetings and dinners.
On a table inside his office sit several wrapped goodbye presents he plans to give to colleagues, and he proudly pulls out a medal for distinguished service presented to him Thursday by Afghan President Hamid Karzai at a private ceremony at his palace.
"I think personally you always wish you could do more, but I think we've done pretty well here," he said.
While he refused to say who will replace him as Canada's new ambassador to Afghanistan, Lalani did offer some advice.
"Build on the collective success of our troops and civilians," he said, adding the job can be frustrating at times as the pace of change can be slow.
"Don't lose faith. Take the long view and don't forget that we are real leaders here."
