Operation ATHENA

Operation ATHENA is Canada’s participation in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Focussed on Kandahar Province in southern Afghanistan since the fall of 2005, Op ATHENA has one over-arching objective: to leave Afghanistan to Afghans, in a country that is better governed, more peaceful and more secure

Priorities

In June 2008, Canada announced six clear priorities for its engagement in Afghanistan.

The first four priorities focus primarily on Kandahar. Canada is helping the Government of Afghanistan to:

• maintain a more secure environment and establish law and order by building the capacity of the Afghan National Army and Police, and support complementary efforts in the areas of justice and corrections;
• provide jobs, education, and essential services, like water;
• provide humanitarian assistance to people in need, including refugees; and
• enhance the management and security of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Nationally, Canada is helping to:

• build Afghan institutions that are central to our Kandahar priorities and support democratic processes such as elections; and
• contribute to Afghan-led political reconciliation efforts aimed at weakening the insurgency and fostering a sustainable peace.

Background

Origins

ISAF was formed under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1386 of 20 December 2001 with a mandate to maintain security in and around Kabul so employees of the Afghan Interim Authority (the body governing Afghanistan under the terms of the Bonn Agreement ) and the United Nations could operate in a secure environment. Britain was the first country to serve as lead nation, from December 2001 to June 2002. Resolution 1413 of 23 May 2002 extended the ISAF mission and authorization to 20 December 2002, and Germany and the Netherlands took over from Britain to share the lead. On 27 November 2002, the mandate was extended again by Resolution 1444 to run until 20 December 2003.

In June 2002, the former King of Afghanistan, Zahir Shah, returned from exile to convene the Loya Jirga or grand tribal council of Afghanistan. The Loya Jirga established the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan, and elected Hamid Karzai as its president and head of the Afghan Transitional Authority, which replaced the Afghan Interim Authority.

Operation ATHENA began on 17 July 2003 with the installation of Brigadier-General Peter Devlin of Canada for six months as commander of ISAF’s Kabul Multi-National Brigade. On 19 July 2003, the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battalion Group began deploying to Kabul as Roto 0 of Op ATHENA.

Phase I: Kabul

ISAF became a NATO mission on 11 August 2003. On the same day, Major-General Andrew Leslie of Canada was installed as Deputy Commander of ISAF. Its main focus during the first year of NATO leadership was helping the Afghan Transitional Authority maintain a safe and secure environment in Kabul while the Loya Jirga developed and ratified a constitution for Afghanistan (completed 4 January 2004).

On 9 February 2004, Lieutenant-General Rick Hillier of Canada accepted the command of ISAF, which he retained until handing over to LGen Jean-Louis Py of France on 9 August 2004.

ISAF’s primary objective in 2004 was ensuring the safe conduct of Afghanistan’s first democratic election, which was held on 9 October 2004 to choose 250 Members of Parliament and the President. Despite widespread threats and isolated outbreaks of violence, some 80 percent of eligible voters turned out on election day. Hamid Karzai was declared the winner, and on 9 December 2004 he was inaugurated President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Rotations during Phase I
Roto 0	August 2003 - February 2004	3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battalion Group
Roto 1	February 2004 - August 2004	3rd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment 5e Régiment d'artillerie légère du Canada
	June 2004	5e Régiment du génie de combat
Roto 2	August 2004 - February 2005	1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Reconnaissance Squadron, Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) 11 Field Squadron, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment
Roto 3	February 2005 - July 2005	23 Field Squadron, 2 Combat Engineer Regiment
	March 2005 - July 2005	1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment

Phase II: Kandahar

In 2005, ISAF began to extend its operations beyond Kabul to support the development and growth of Afghanistan’s governmental institutions, especially its national security forces. At that time, ISAF also joined the extensive efforts by governmental and non-governmental organizations throughout Afghanistan to rebuild its shattered communities.

The Afghanistan Compact governs the relationship between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the coalition forces operating in Afghanistan: ISAF and U.S.-led forces deployed under Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Under this agreement, the Afghan government accepted responsibility for building the Afghan National Army into a force 70,000 strong by 2010, and the international community pledged comprehensive assistance.

Assisting in the development of Afghanistan’s national security forces, and maintaining a safe and secure environment to allow development and capacity-building work to continue, are the primary tasks of ISAF’s combat troops and their support units, organized in provincial Task Forces. Task Force Kandahar, part of ISAF Regional Command (South) and headquartered at Kandahar Airfield, is Canada’s contribution to this effort.

Rotations during Phase II
Roto 0	August 2005 - February 2006	2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group
Roto 1	February 2006 - July 2006	1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group
Roto 2	August 2006 - February 2007	1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group
Roto 3	February 2007 - August 2007	2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group
Roto 4	August 2007 - February 2008	3rd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Battle Group
Roto 5	February 2008 - August 2008	2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group
Roto 6	August 2008 - February 2009	3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group
Roto 7	February 2009 - August 2009	2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Battle Group
Roto 8	August 2009 - February 2010	1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group

Operation ATHENA today

Personnel deployed on Operation ATHENA are members of Joint Task Force Afghanistan, which comprises all Canadian Forces personnel and assets deployed in southwest Asia. For current details of its component units, please consult our Joint Task Force Afghanistan fact sheet.

The work of Operation ATHENA is conducted by the following components of Joint Task Force Afghanistan:

• the Canadian contingent in ISAF Headquarters in Kabul,
• the Canadian contingent in ISAF Regional Command (South) Headquarters at Kandahar Airfield,
• Task Force Kandahar, based at Kandahar Airfield and under operational command of ISAF Regional Command (South), and
• the Canadian Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) and the Canadian Heron UAV Detachment, elements of the Joint Task Force Afghanistan Air Wing based at Kandahar Airfield,

Task Force Kandahar includes the following units:

• a headquarters, supported by intelligence, communications and field security assets;
• a provincial reconstruction team;
• operational mentor and liaison teams; and
• manoeuvre units, including a Canadian battle group and a regiment of infantry from the U.S. Army.

Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team

The work of ISAF’s Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) reinforces the authority of the Afghan government by fostering stability and development. Comprising experienced diplomats, development workers, police and corrections officers as well as military personnel, the PRTs promote the policies and priorities of Afghanistan’s national government with local authorities, encourage reform initiatives, and co-ordinate development projects. The Government of Canada formed the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team (KPRT) in August 2005 at Camp Nathan Smith in Kandahar City.

The KPRT is a crucial component of Canadian development work in Afghanistan. Through its Construction Management Office and Specialist Engineering Team, the KPRT provides co-ordination and expert engineering support services to a multitude of projects executed by Afghan contractors. The Canadian development effort is led by three signature projects:

• The Dahla Dam and irrigation system;
• Education in Kandahar Province; and
• Eradication of polio.

Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams

The Afghan national security forces receive strategic-level assistance from the NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan and the Combined Security Assistance Command — Afghanistan (see Operation ARCHER). Training and mentorship are provided at operational and tactical level by ISAF’s Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams (OMLTs). The first Canadian OMLT deployed to Kandahar Province in August 2005 to work with the 1st Brigade, 205 Corps, Afghan National Army (ANA). In 2007, a similar effort was launched in the Afghan National Police (ANP), and the Canadian OMLT expanded to support ANP detachments at Police Sub-Stations across Kandahar Province.

Manoeuvre units

The manoeuvre units of the task force carry out kinetic missions in the Canadian area of responsibility, always in co-operation with other coalition forces and in partnership with the Afghan National Army and other elements of the Afghan national security forces.

The Canadian battle group that arrived in Kandahar Province in August 2005 consists of a full battalion of infantry, a tank squadron, an armoured reconnaissance squadron, a battery of field artillery, and a field engineer squadron. The battle group represents such a large proportion of Op ATHENA personnel that its rotations have come to represent the entire operation. The U.S. Army infantry regiment, added in August 2008, operates as part of the Canadian task force.