NR - 13.367 - December 22, 2013
Ottawa – Today marks the beginning of the last 100 days of the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan. After more than 12 years, the largest deployment of Canadian Armed Forces personnel since the Second World War will draw to a close on March 31, 2014.
“Canadians should be proud of their tremendous contributions in Afghanistan,” said the Hon. Rob Nicholson, Minister of National Defence. “In support of the Afghan government, our whole-of-government partners, and our international allies, the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces are making a difference in the lives of the Afghan people while contributing to international peace and security.”
“Canadian Armed Forces members will leave Afghanistan confident that they helped Afghans to reclaim their country from terrorism, and helped them to provide for their own security,” said General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff. “The last chapter of our mission in Afghanistan is not yet written, and it will not be for us to write. That task will fall to the Afghans themselves. We will look back on our contributions and achievements with pride – hard earned and dearly paid. We will hold our heads high.”
Canada has proudly played a part in the international effort to build a more secure, stable, well-governed and prosperous Afghanistan. Building on and reinforcing the gains made over the past 12 years, Canada will continue to play an important role in supporting efforts toward a better future for all Afghans. To this end, Canada has committed $330 million to help sustain the Afghan National Security Forces and $227 million in development assistance between 2015 and 2017.
With the end of the military mission drawing near, the Department of National Defence will unveil 100 photographs of select moments from Afghanistan. One photograph will be unveiled each day at 2 p.m. EST for the last 100 days of the mission starting Sunday, December 22, 2013, on the @CFOperations Twitter account and Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/cfoperations/sets/72157638824476296
Photos and video of Op ATTENTION (Canada’s current mission in Afghanistan) can be found on the combat camera website: Photos and video of Operation ATTENTION
More information on Canada’s mission in Afghanistan is available at: Canada’s mission in Afghanistan.
