Canada to stay in Afghanistan as long as it takes: MacKay

Canadian troops will stay in Afghanistan as long as it takes to rebuild the war-torn country and establish democracy there, federal Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay said Sunday.

"We've said all along that we're there to finish the job," MacKay told Canadian Press in Halifax before travelling to New York for a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.

"Will we be there five years? Will we be there longer?" MacKay asked. "That remains to be seen. I would certainly defer to Gen. Hillier as far as his assessment on the ground."

MacKay was responding to comments by Canadian Gen. Rick Hillier, Canada's chief of defence staff, who said Sunday that international forces will be needed in Afghanistan for up to five more years.

"It's going to be another two to five years," Hillier said, before Afghanistan's own forces are ready to take over.

Hillier was echoing recent comments by the British commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, who put his estimate at three to five years, and a newly released U.S. Congressional research report which said NATO will need five years or more to free Afghanistan from Taliban influence.

Canada's current commitment expires in 2009.

Polls have indicated that Canadians are deeply divided on the mission. But MacKay repeated the Conservative government's assertion that Canada must fight terrorism abroad or face the threat at home.

"We either deal with this situation inside Afghanistan, or wait for it to come here," said MacKay. "Terror doesn't know any boundaries."

Canada has more than 2,000 troops in Afghanistan. Ottawa announced last week it was sending another 450 soldiers in the near future, and bringing home about 250.

So far, 32 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died in Afghanistan.