Canada hands over Kandahar city to U.S.
Last Updated: Thursday, July 15, 2010 | 1:45 PM ET Comments118Recommend85
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/topstories/2010/03/30/tp-tanks_kandahar-cp-840242.jpg
The U.S. took control of Kandahar city from Canada in a planned transfer of responsibility on Thursday. (Associated Press)
Canada has handed over command of Kandahar city to the Americans, as part of a major reorganization of NATO's forces in southern Afghanistan.
The influx of thousands of fresh U.S. troops into Kandahar prompted the NATO reshuffling, Lt.-Col. Craig Dalton of the Canadian Forces told a news conference Thursday in Kandahar.
"The gradual increase of coalition forces and our Afghan security partners will step up security and provide depth to governance and development," he said.
"This rising tide of security will set the conditions for the Afghans to defeat the insurgency."
The number of NATO troops in the province will hit 21,000 by the end of the summer, which is three times what it was last year at this time.
"In addition to the added international footprint in Kandahar, the Afghan national army and the Afghan national police will double in size in the province this year," Dalton said.
Two weeks ago, Canada also turned over the Zhari and Arghandab districts to the U.S. Canada will now command a brigade-sized unit south and west of the city, in Kandahar province's Dand and Panjwaii districts.
Canada's role in the Afghan province has been shrinking ahead of its planned pullout next year.
