Episode 02 - Cradle of the Taliban

In 2005, Canadian development experts, diplomats, and soldiers take responsibility for the reconstruction of Kandahar Province, the birthplace – and resolute stronghold – of the Taliban.

In 2005, Canadian development experts, diplomats, and soldiers return to southern Afghanistan and take responsibility for the reconstruction of Kandahar Province, the litmus test of the new 3D policy of Defence, Development, and Diplomacy. But Kandahar is the birthplace – and resolute stronghold – of the Taliban.

With the Americans’ focus on Iraq, the Canadians become the principal force in Kandahar, the centre of the entire Afghanistan mission. No one realizes just how volatile the situation really is.

Afghanistan swiftly becomes Canada’s largest aid program, and the Canadians do not hunker down inside the wire – with the assistance of brave Afghan interpreters, they go out into the villages to meet the locals and provide aid.

It proves harder than expected, as the Taliban re-emerge with impunity and the central government – especially the nascent Afghan National Police – tentatively attempts to extend its control to the rural districts.

Despite the efforts of the Provincial Reconstruction Team, school construction, and a host of Village Medical Outreach projects, a suicide bomber attacks a Canadian convoy, killing senior diplomat Glyn Berry and abruptly shifting the mission from development to combat.

In this episode, a female Afghan interpreter and CIDA, RCMP, and Canadian Forces veterans share their experiences of the “Cradle of the Taliban.”