KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Taliban insurgents attacked a camp housing Canada's reconstruction team twice last week and both attacks were followed by exchanges of gunfire, the Canadian military said Tuesday.
Lt.-Col. Bob Chamberlain said no Canadians were injured in the two attacks, which happened on Aug. 13 and 18.
It's the first time that Camp Nathan Smith, the base for much of Canada's reconstruction and humanitarian work in Kandahar, has been attacked with rocket-propelled grenades, he said.
There were also exchanges of fire during the attacks.
Chamberlain said the attacks and other recent roadside attacks that have injured seven Canadian troops and killed Pte. Simon Longtin don't indicate a new offensive by the Taliban.
"To me, it's not an indication of any change in our status,'' said Chamberlain, commander of Camp Nathan Smith for the last eight months.
"It is part of the cost of doing business here. This is a high-threat environment.''
It shows that "we are a constant target as are all the forward operating bases,'' he said.
Meanwhile, Longtin's body will arrive at CFB Trenton on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old, of Longueuil, Que., died when his light armoured vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb on Sunday.
His death was the first in Afghanistan for the Royal 22nd Regiment based in Quebec, where support is low for the Canadian mission.
Chamberlain said no one has been arrested for the attacks.
"I wouldn't give it greater credibility other than the fact there were a couple of people with RPG (rocket-propelled grenades),'' he said.
"We're seeing a trend that things are getting better over time and there's going to be a step back, but I'm seeing a gradual improvement of the security situation.''
The camp is the base for Canada's Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar and is considered one of the more secure Canadian bases in southern Afghanistan.
It is defended by about 200 soldiers from 3rd battalion of the Royal 22nd, known as the Van Doos.
Chamberlain said that Afghans are starting to turn against the Taliban.
"I believe that people have had enough of fighting.''
Canada has about 2,300 troops in the war-torn country as part of the NATO force supporting the Afghan government. About 1,100 of the Canadians are from the Royal 22nd.
Sixty-seven Canadian soldiers and a diplomat have died in Afghanistan since 2002. The fatalities include a couple of other soldiers from Quebec, but Longtin is the first from the Royal 22nd.
