Afghan minister praises Canada as 'greatest ally'

Afghanistan’s education minister, Mohammed Atmar, praised Canada and referred to our country as its greatest ally during a visit to Toronto yesterday.

"You protect our people and advance the basic rights of our people," he said. "Our government is so proud to convey to you that you are our greatest ally -- an ally that we depend upon, an ally to be appreciated, an ally that we will long be grateful to."

Mr. Atmar also spoke on the improvement to education that has been made in Afghanistan since the Taliban were overthrown.

"What is happening in terms of education is a strategic transformation of society," he said, noting more than six times as many children are going to school now than when the Taliban ruled the country from 1996 to 2001.

Statements like these makes me proud as a Canadian that our troops, as well as other citizens, are doing a lot of good in that country. It really makes me ashamed that the Federal NDP’s position is that they want all Canadian troops to be immediately pulled out of that country. It really makes me ashamed that the Liberals, who begun this mission are now politicizing and undermining it. Not only are these parties undermining the mission, they are also doing it at a time when Afghanistan desperately needs our help.

Both Afghan President, Hamid Karzai and Education Minister, Mohammed Atmar have emphasized the good that Canadian troops are doing in that country, despite the challenges that they face. They have asked the opposition parties to reconsider their stand on the mission. Hopefully the opposition will take a genuine look at Afghanistan from a humanitarian point of view and at least reconsider their stance.