A senior government official says Canada will keep between 900 and 950 troops in Afghanistan in a noncombat training role after Canada's combat mission ends in 2011.
The official said Monday that 750 military trainers and about 200 support will remain and most likely be based in Kabul. They would remain in Afghanistan until no later than 2014.
The official says NATO allies pressured Canada to remain in a combat role but says that is something Canada won't consider. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because no authorization was given to speak publicly.
Parliament has mandated that the combat mission end in 2011.
Canada has about 3,000 troops in Kandahar province. More than 150 Canadian soldiers have been killed and more than 1,500 have been wounded.
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