Cablegate: Canada Backs Increase in Size of Afghan National

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SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL NATO MOPS MARR AF CA
SUBJECT: CANADA BACKS INCREASE IN SIZE OF AFGHAN NATIONAL
ARMY

REF: STATE 71479

1. (SBU) In response to reftel demarche, Department of
Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Deputy
Director for Defence and Security Relations Anne Burgess said
that Canada was "ready to support" the proposed increase in
the size of the Afghan National Army fighting force from
80,000 to 122,000. Burgess stressed that Canada would expect
the enlargement to result in the deployment at least one
additional Kandak to join the Canadian Forces (CF) in
Kandahar.

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