Toronto: Two more Canadian soldiers have been killed in a roadside explosion in Afghanistan, making December a deadly month for its six-year-old Afghan mission.

The Canadian defence ministry said the soldiers, as well as a member of the Afghan National Police and one Afghan interpreter, were killed Saturday when an explosive device detonated in their vicinity in the Panjway district of Kandahar province.

Four other Canadian soldiers and one Afghan interpreter were also injured in another explosion just west of Kandahar city. The soldiers were conducting security operations in the area when the explosion occurred, the ministry said.

Under the NATO-led multi-national force, Canada has over 2,500 soldiers deployed in the worst-affected Kandahar province to control insurgency and train Afghan forces.

In recent months, Canadian troops have been targeted with explosive devices (IEDs) by the Taliban as they try to keep highway one for supplies to the US base in Helmand province.

The defence ministry said: "Members of Task Force Kandahar are committed to improving security and increasing development in Kandahar Province.

"We are all thinking of the family and friends of our fallen comrades during this sad time, but are determined to continue working with our Afghan and international partners towards a better future for the people of Afghanistan."

So far, 106 Canadians have been killed in Afghanistan, including eight this month alone. Canada has decided to wind up its mission by December 2011.

 

Source : IANS