Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke overnight with his Australian counterpart about the future of NATO's Afghanistan mission, his spokeswoman said Thursday in Ottawa. Speaking by telephone, Harper told Prime Minister Kevin Rudd that Canada wishes to extend its deployment of 2,500 troops in the violent Kandahar province to 2011, but only if NATO allies send reinforcements and additional equipment. Otherwise, Canada will withdraw from Afghanistan at the end of its current mandate in February 2009, Harper said. “Prime Minister Rudd confirmed that Australia's Labor government is determined to stay the course in Afghanistan and looks forward to collaborating with Canada and other allies in our international effort to enable Afghans to provide for their own security and see their country prosper,” said Harper's spokeswoman. Harper also “noted with interest the historic message of apology” delivered by Rudd this week to aboriginal Australians, the spokeswoman said, and both leaders urged continued Canada-Australia collaboration on climate change.
