The head of the Canadian military says plans are already underway to pull troops out of Afghanistan in 2011. And Gen. Walter Natynczyk, the chief of defence staff, says he expects the 2,800-soldier gap left in Kandahar by Canada to be filled by American soldiers, thousands of whom already operate in the country's most dangerous region. "I've put out instructions back in August on our planning and preparation with regard to 2011," he said. "Our allies are well aware, NATO is well aware of our intentions because ... it takes a year or so to prepare all the troops ... to replace us."A parliamentary mandate passed in 2008 starts the long process of bringing Canadian soldiers and equipment in July 2011 for an eventual end to the mission by December. The Conservative government has proposed holding another debate in the House of Commons to define the scope of Canada's humanitarian and development work in Afghanistan beyond 2011 but has yet to put forward any concrete proposals.
An influx of U.S. troops earlier this year sent thousands of additional soldiers to Kandahar province to help out Canada. Coalition forces in Afghanistan are awaiting a decision from U.S. President Barack Obama on whether to send as many as 40,000 additional American soldiers to fight the war.