As Canadian troops in Afghanistan cope with their grief over the loss of a fellow soldier, Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham said the country's commitment to Afghanistan will not be swayed.

Canada has about 2,000 soldiers deployed in Afghanistan, where they're working with a NATO-led force providing security in and around the capital Kabul.

Their current commitment ends in August, but Graham says that doesn't mean Canada will be pulling out shortly after.

"We've assured NATO that we will be considering how we could continue to be helpful in Afghanistan," he said at a joint news conference with visiting NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Ottawa Thursday.

"It's not just about providing security in Afghanistan," Graham told reporters, outlining a possible new role he sees for Canadian troops. "We have to restore some form of civilian life and prosperity."

To that end, Graham said they could participate in the joint civilian-military groups, known as provincial reconstruction teams, working on reconstruction and development projects throughout the country.

The army -- currently delivering on a promise to NATO of two six-month rotations comprising about 2,000 soldiers each -- says its resources will be exhausted by August.

Meanwhile, at the Canadian Forces' base Camp Julien near Kabul, the parking lot is full, packed with the fleet of Iltis vehicles similar to the one targeted by a suicide bomber on Tuesday.

Corporal Jamie Brendan Murphy, from Conception Harbour, Nfld., was killed when an attacker with two mortar bombs strapped to his chest jumped onto his vehicle and detonated the explosives.

Three other soldiers suffered shrapnel wounds in the blast.

According to the Canadian commander, Major General Andrew Leslie, it's just too risky to let the lightly armoured vehicles back out on patrol.

In recent days, the ousted Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack that killed Murphy, as well as a separate attack that left British Pte. Jonathan Kitulagoda dead.

Four other British soldiers were wounded in that incident.

But Sergeant Major Wayne Bartlett told CTV's Matt McClure that most soldiers remain eager to do their job.

"Would we all like to be out there right now? Yes, but we're not," he said, adding that in light of events the decision to stop Iltis patrols is a good one.

"(Leslie's) made that decision based on sound intelligence and clear thinking."

And as soldiers come to terms with the events of the last few days, a brief respite could help restore clarity of purpose to soldiers like Cpl. Jason Christensen.

"You shouldn't lose anybody," he said, still reeling from the death of James Murphy. "No matter what amount of tour time you have in. I don't even consider that a factor. I'm just so in shock and very upset about it."

Cpl. Richard Newman was driving the Iltis when the convoy was attacked. Now, he's nursing wounds -- both physical and psychological.

"How one person could put two mortar bombs on him and just pull the trigger knowing that he's going to blow himself up and hurt other people too," Newman said, describing his shock.

"I'm dealing with it pretty good. It's just that it's in your mind."

Canadians are still patrolling the streets of Kabul, however, they're just sticking to the more heavily armoured vehicles.

Though Maj. Gen. Leslie hasn't said when the Iltis vehicles will be back out on patrol, Matt McClure reports that it's not likely to be too long.

"Their commanders say it will be at least a few days before they're back on the streets in their jeeps," he said.

And with Leslie certain the attacks in Afghanistan this week were related, they're not taking any chances.

"Certainly, I haven't seen security this tight at this base since Canadian soldiers started arriving here last summer," McClure said.