Canadian troops arrive in Kabul as planners grapple with bringing gear home

OTTAWA – The final rotation of Canadian troops destined for the training mission in Afghanistan began to trickle into the war-ravaged country this week.

It is happening as NATO military planners come to grips with one of the greatest challenges of the war — recovering thousands of vehicles and tonnes of equipment after more than a decade in the field.

Just over 100 soldiers from bases in Edmonton and Shilo, Man., boarded a transport plane for Kabul where Canada’s commitment to the Afghan military will continue until its mandated conclusion on March 31 next year.

Roughly 900 Canadians still serve in Afghanistan.

The commitment of all western armies to Afghanistan ends next year, with the United States expecting to leave behind a token force of 15,000 advisers.

A U.S. report recently estimated that over the next two years NATO will be bringing home more than 130,000 soldiers, 70,000 vehicles and 120,000 containers of war material.