Some more good Afstan news

1) Afghans 'still hopeful on future'

Most Afghans are relatively hopeful about their future, an opinion poll commissioned by the BBC has suggested.

They also support the current Afghan government and the presence of overseas troops, and oppose the Taleban.

But the poll suggests that Afghans are slightly less optimistic than a year ago, and are frustrated at the slow pace of reconstruction efforts.

Charney Research spoke to 1,377 people in October and November in all 34 provinces for the BBC, ABC and ARD.

This is the third such survey, and is published to coincide with the sixth anniversary of the fall of the Taleban.

Overall, the figures indicate that the peaceful north of Afghanistan is significantly more satisfied than the troubled south. Most dissatisfaction is found in the south-west, where the Taleban are most active.

The poll suggests that despite another year of conflict, confidence and hope have been dented only a little in the past 12 months...

One of the most striking findings was the apparent unpopularity of the Taleban and their foreign supporters.

Only 5% of respondents said they supported or strongly supported the Taleban (against 4% last year), with 14% of respondents saying they supported or strongly supported jihadi fighters from other countries.

Only 4% would like to see the Taleban return to government.

Against this, 71% of respondents said they supported or strongly supported the presence of US military forces in Afghanistan, with 67% supporting or strongly supporting Nato and its Isaf peacekeeping mission [emphasis added].

Support for both of these has fallen in the past year, however, even though most respondents blamed the Taleban and their allies for most of the violence...

Lots of good extra stuff at the story itself. Meanwhile, AP goes for the negative:

Afghans are increasingly critical of U.S. military efforts in their country, while support for the Taliban is on the rise in the violence-plagued southwest, according to a poll released today...

Odd that the BBC might almost be accused of "cheerleading" for the US and ISAF (though the southern figures are, to use a horrid word, worrisome). An earlier post on an Afghan poll by Babbling is here.

2) Canada pledges $80 million for Afghanistan de-mining efforts

Bev Oda, the minister responsible for the Canadian International Development Agency, announced Monday that the money would go to the UN Mine Action Centre, to be used for clearing landmine-infested areas of Afghanistan, as well as to fund education programs and assist victims of landmines.

"Canada will continue its strong support of mine action activities in Afghanistan and the United Nations mine action service with a contribution of $80 million over the next four years," Oda told a news conference at the Canadian War Museum.

Critics, however, wondered out loud why only Afghanistan is being targeted when so many other countries are plagued with the deadly hidden devices...

Critics, critics, critics...