Canada bringing ground forces home from Afghanistan

TORONTO -- Canada announced Tuesday it was withdrawing its 800 ground troops from Afghanistan this summer, ending their six-month mission.

Defense Minister Art Eggleton said navy and special forces would maintain their roles in the U.S.-led campaign. "We'll continue to be a part of it."

Canada's military resources were stretched by participation in peacekeeping missions and other duties around the world, making it difficult to maintain the 800 Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry troops based in Kandahar, Afghanistan, he said.

Asked if the mistaken bombing of Canadian troops in April, killing four soldiers and wounding eight, had anything to do with the decision, Eggleton said: "As much of a tragedy as that was, no, it did not play into this decision."

In Kandahar, Lt. Col. Pat Stogran told the troops they would spend a week decompressing before heading home, the Canadian Press reported.

"Instead of spending that five or seven days in Kandahar, we're going some place where maybe there's a beach and some beer and some normal bed linen," Stogran said.

Canada has about 2,000 military personnel supporting the Afghan operations, including the 800 ground troops, an undisclosed number of special force members, and sailors.

Eggleton said the special forces and navy missions would continue. He said the special force members would be rotated, meaning those in Afghanistan would be replaced upon completion of their tour of duty.

"We will not be rotating our ground troops in Kandahar, meaning this part of our operation will conclude in late July or early August," he said.

Eggleton said 4,000 Canadian force members were deployed around the world, stretching the resources of the Canadian military after years of budget cuts that have reduced its size.

The total number of troops is about 60,000, and military officials and opposition politicians complain they lack modern equipment and weaponry.

Eggleton said Canada could send more ground troops to Afghanistan next year. Canadian media reports have said Romanian forces might replace the Canadian forces leaving this summer.

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