Although strides have been made to build up the Afghan Army in Kandahar, the province remained a dangerous place where terrorists continue to target the country's government, a federal government report released on Wednesday found.
In addition, a majority of residents in the province did not find that security had improved.
The quarterly report on the status of Canada's mission in Afghanistan also found that:
- Canadian Forces have been discovering more improvised explosive devices and disrupting insurgents from accessing them.
- Canadian efforts to create jobs remain in the preliminary stages, leaving many Afghans jobless.
- Canadians have only opened five schools in Kandahar despite their intentions to build or renovate 50 schools in the province by 2011.
Releasing quarterly reports was one of the recommendations given in the Manley Report to help inform Canadians about the mission.
John Manley, the former deputy prime minister, said the results of the update, which covered January to March 2009, meet the expectations set out in his report.
"I think reporting, benchmarking our progress is really very important. We're spending a lot of money of course, but also a lot of lives in Afghanistan. And Canadians should know whether we're achieving anything for doing that," he told CTV Power Play's Tom Clark on Wednesday.
U.S. Admiral William Fallon said Canada has been successful in supplying security to allow for economic development and the establishment of the rule of law.
Fallon led U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), one of five geographic joint military commands of the U.S. armed forces, each headed by a senior general or admiral, from March 2007 to March 2008.
Manley said Canada's focus on establishing the rule of law in Afghanistan is an "important element" in ensuring regional and global security.
"Without the rule of law essentially you have chaos, and it was out of chaos that really the events of 9/11 sprang from Afghanistan," he said on Power Play.
The U.S. first invaded Afghanistan to disrupt al Qaeda, Fallon said, and to prevent it from launching attacks on the U.S. and other countries.
But now security must be transferred to Afghan forces for the country to become a viable state, Fallon said.
"The future is really getting these people competent to be able to take over and provide security for the people," he said.
He said the mission will be a success when there is a stable government in Afghanistan and the country can reduce the amount of foreign aid it receives.
Although the mission still will have its difficulties, Manley said the world cannot risk a failed state.
"If we can do something to really give the Afghan people the capability of managing their own affairs without threatening their neighbours -- while respecting a basic level of human rights in their country -- then we'll have achieved a real success."
Since the beginning of the mission, 118 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died in Afghanistan.
Documents released by the Privy Council Office last winter suggested Canada could spend as much as $13 billion on the mission.
