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Soldiers overwhelmed patrolling Afghanistan border

Updated Sun. Jul. 29 2007 10:34 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Canadian soldiers are helping prevent the Taliban from crossing between the Afghanistan and Pakistan border, but their task is proving difficult by extremists who kill and intimidate assisting local forces.

The Taliban mostly leave the Canadian soldiers alone. They don't want to engage in military combat as the insurgents don't want to draw attention when they move weapons, drugs and combatants between the two countries.

"We know that Taliban activity goes back and forth across the border on a regular basis and we're here to try and stem the flow," says Maj. Steve Graham, Royal Canadian Dragoons Squadron Commander.

One of his units recently returned from an outpost in northern Kandahar Province where the Taliban continue to intimidate the Afghan army and local police officers with threats and violence.

"We have suffered so much," says the village leader, "so we are grateful for the help."

The porous border stretches hundreds of kilometres, and is a gateway for gunrunners and drug dealers.

"Are we able to reduce it? Yes. Can we stop it? No," Graham says.

"The border's too big for my squadron alone to do that."

Security is the main objective at the outpost in Spin Boldak, the Canadian mission's closest to the Pakistani border, but the task is overwhelming.

The mission is also hampered by crooked officers from the local army and police forces, who accept bribes to turn their heads.

Good deeds such as building trust between locals and the Canadians, and constructing a school or a new well, are often undone by the Taliban intimidation.

Roadside bombings are another risk Canadian soldiers have had to deal with. Insurgent attacks have killed 66 military personnel and one diplomat since troops entered the war-torn country in 2002.

Canada has about 2,500 soldiers serving in Kandahar Province, but federal politicians and military brass have called for more support from other NATO allies.

There are 35,000 NATO soldiers in Afghanistan.

Canada took over the provincial reconstruction mission in the region in February 2006 and is scheduled to remain there until February 2009.