KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean mingled with Canadian officers at the massive NATO base tonight as part of her surprise first visit to the war-ravaged country.
Her government jet landed just hours after two Canadian convoys were attacked in separate incidents in the Kandahar area.
There were no Canadian or coalition casualties.
The Governor General was to meet with lower-ranking soldiers later in the evening at Canada House, a recreation area where the troops relax.
She made no comments upon her arrival at the base in the pitch-black darkness.
Earlier in the day, Jean met with President Hamid Karzai as part of her first trip to the war-ravaged country.
She also toured a women’s school funded by the Canadian International Development Agency and met for talks with leading Afghan women as part of International Women’s Day.
“Canada is proud to be among the 37 countries restoring stability and supporting reconstruction efforts,” Jean said in a statement.
“The work that has been accomplished in so little time is promising and we are proud to support the Afghani people on this difficult, sometimes painful, journey. On behalf of all Canadians, I wish the Afghani people peace, prosperity and happiness.”
Jean also spoke with leading Afghan women as part of International Women’s Day.
According to Amnesty International, violence against women and girls in Afghanistan is pervasive.
Amnesty says women and girls live with the risk of abduction, rape, and forced marriage.
They are often traded as a means to settle disputes and debts. The group says females face daily discrimination from all segments of society as well as by state officials.
“The women of Afghanistan may face the most unbearable conditions, but they never stop fighting for survival. Of course, we, the rest of the women around the world, took too long to hear the cries of our Afghani sisters, but I am here to tell them that they are no longer alone. And neither are the people of Afghanistan,” said Jean.
Last year, sources told The Canadian Press that Jean, who is commander-in-chief of Canada’s armed forces, had asked and was twice denied permission to visit Afghanistan because of security concerns.
That was despite visits by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay and Defence Minister Gordon O’Connor.
Meanwhile, Maj. Dale MacEachern of Task Force Afghanistan said an attack today on one Canadian convoy involved a suicide bomber in a car.
The attack on a second convoy was a roadside bomb.
“I can confirm for you that there were no Canadian casualties,” he said.
