The Government of Canada has announced that its military mission in Afghanistan will change in July 2011 from combat to training the Afghan military and police.

Afghan forces, trained in humanitarian law and human rights standards, could improve and legitimize security services, especially in areas where insurgent fighting is light or non-existent.

But where the insurgency is entrenched, substituting Afghan troops for international troops will not resolve the conflict.

Ending the nation-wide insurgency depends on a major surge in peacemaking diplomacy

 As well, Afghanistan is culturally and geographically complex and hosts many other local conflicts focused on specific issues:

• land and water;

• family and tribal grievances;

• the presence of warlords and criminal elements;

• corrupt Afghan security forces and government officials.

Through dialogue, research and analysis we and others have concluded that these local conflicts cannot be resolved through military means.

Durable peace is a long-term project requiring international commitment and resources for ongoing peacebuilding efforts.

Project Ploughshares calls on Canada to initiate an immediate diplomatic surge,
along with heightened long-term peacebuilding efforts that together have the political energy
and financial resources on a scale comparable to the military surge

Canada cannot be the main player in a diplomatic surge, but it can work to persuade the international community to pursue a political settlement.

Project Ploughshares calls on Canada to appoint a Special Envoy for Afghanistan
with enough staffing and political and financial support to be effective

In our view, for the military to enhance human security and support peace efforts, it must be part of a broader approach that includes attention to and funding for: development, democracy, disarmament, diplomacy and defence. What we call the 5Ds.

We are working to break the cycle of war by pushing policies that approach human security more comprehensively.

Learn more about our work on Canada's Role in Afghanistan

Learn more about our approach to human security

photo: Eric Kanalstein/UN