The Conservative government is mulling several options for Canada's post-July 2011 role in Afghanistan, but is not ready to make the details public.
"After 2011, the government is considering the three following options: aid, development, and training in a non-combat role," Dimitri Soudas, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's spokesperson, told CTV News Channel's Power Play.
"The hard work that's been done by Canadian soldiers, diplomats and development workers will continue, but in a very different way."
There have been reports Ottawa plans to send 1,000 troops to Kabul to train Afghan soldiers and police, but Soudas would not confirm that.
"Our numbers will be significantly lower than the 3,000 we currently have and the role will be significantly different -- non-combat training and not in Kandahar," Soudas said of the option being considered.
According to The Associated Press, NATO says it wants 900 trainers for Afghan forces. A senior government official said 750 Canadian military trainers would remain in Kabul, along with 200 support troops.
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff says he cannot support the proposal to keep Canadian troops in Afghanistan until full details of the operation are known.
Ignatieff proposed in June that some soldiers stay in Afghanistan to help train the national military there past the Canadian combat end date of July 2011.
"The government owes Canadians an explanation," Ignatieff told reporters Monday of the proposal.
He questioned the timing of Harper's interest in the move, considering there is a NATO leaders' summit only two weeks away and Canada has been under pressure from its allies to continue the Afghan mission.
"The devil is in the detail. How many troops, for how long, in what role, with what allies, with what mission?" Ignatieff said.
"This is amateur hour if you don't have clear answers to those questions. So we're saying come clean with the Canadian people."
Reports suggest the government is considering sending 1,000 soldiers to Kabul until 2014 to strengthen NATO's training efforts.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay confirmed Sunday the government is considering a non-combat role for Canadian troops past the July end date. He suggested a decision could be made within the next 10 days.
Soudas denied that Ottawa is considering the option because of political pressure.
"The reason why allies are asking (for Canada to stay) . . . is because Canadian heroes have done such great work," he said. "Canada has contributed a lot to the Afghan people."
The move would be a complete reversal for Harper who in January said there would be no Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan past the July end date, "other than the odd guard guarding an embassy."
He has repeatedly shot down Ignatieff's call for a training role for Canadian troops past the end of the combat mission.
The Conservative government will need the support of the Liberals to win approval in the House of Commons. The NDP and Bloc Quebecois have said Canada should get out of Afghanistan all together.
Ignatieff hinted the Liberals would not necessary support the government.
"This isn't the kind of thing you want to do some secret deal with the Liberals about. This is a conversation that has to be done with Canadians," he said.
Soudas noted the government is considering options very similar "if not identical" to what the Liberals asked for.
With files from The Canadian Press
