KANDAHAR- 16 March, 2008 (Wakth News Agency): A Canadian soldier was killed by an explosive device during a foot patrol several hours after nightfall on Sunday.
This is the 81st Canadian to die since Canadian troops began fighting in Afghanistan in early 2002.
"This incident will not discourage us from continuing our mission," Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche, the Task Force Afghanistan commander said in a statement in which he described "the fallen comrade" as "a good soldier."
The soldier, who had only recently arrived in Afghanistan, died near the village of Zangabad, about 35 kilometers southwest of Kandahar City. This was in Panjwaii, long one of the most hotly contested districts between the Taliban and the Canadians and the Afghan forces who fight alongside them.
No other soldiers were hurt by the explosion and it was not followed by any exchange of fire with enemy insurgents, said the statement.
Taliban have done little actual fighting, to avoid heavy combat losses to much more heavily armed forces, they have switched tactics, relying increasingly on IEDs and suicide bombers.
© Wakth News Agency 2008 All rights reserved