Canadian soldier injured by Afghanistan landmine

Pte. Frederic Couture was rushed for treatment in Kandahar after the incident, which occurred about noon local time on Saturday. Couture is with the 2nd Van Doos regiment of Valcartier, Que., but his age and hometown have not yet been released.

"At the time they were with the Afghan National Army; they were actually going to a shura (a meeting of village elders) in order to provide humanitarian assistance to that village," Lt. Sue Stefko told reporters.

She said Couture is in serious but stable condition. There is no word yet on whether he will be transferred to the U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany for further treatment.

Couture had been working with the Operational Mentor Liaison Team (OMLT). That unit works with new Afghan National Army personnel.

The blast took place on the Route Summit road in the Pashmul area, about 25 kilometres west of Kandahar City and an area of frequent and intense fighting.

The incident took place one day after a roadside bomb killed one NATO soldier and wounded two others were injured by a roadside bomb in eastern Afghanistan.

The soldiers -- whose nationalities have not yet been released -- were evacuated for treatment.

Most NATO troops in eastern Afghanistan are American.

Operation Falcon's Summit

NATO is planning a new offensive in the same district where Couture was wounded. The operation's code name is Operation Baaz Tsuka, or Falcon's Summit in English.

Military officials bill the offensive as a show of strength, one involving mainly U.S. and British troops.

"Operation Baaz Tsuka will send a very strong and direct message to the Taliban that the people of Afghanistan want them to leave," said Maj.-Gen. Ton Van Loon, head of Regional Command South for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, on Saturday.

However, a Canadian commander hinted Canadian troops will likely play a role.

"What I can say is RC (Regional Command) South, has announced they are going to launch an operation in vicinity where Canadian troops are operating," Gen. Tim Grant, the commander of Canadian forces in southern Afghanistan, told The Canadian Press.

"And Canadian troops are part of RC South. At the current time, Canadian troops are not involved in that operation but if they become involved in it, I will let you know."

While the military expects combat with the Taliban, one officer said the mission wasn't entirely about combat.

"We're looking for the tribal elders to support us in these endeavours," NATO Squadron Leader Dave Marsh told CP.

Some question announcing the operation in advance. However, officials say they need to give civilians a chance to evacuate.

"We are hoping in this particular circumstance that the Taliban will do as Gen. Van Loon has suggested and pack up," said Marsh.

"We are massing forces in the area but this is to send a message to the Taliban as well. This is an information-led operation which may or may not involve some manoeuvres," he added.

"The key thing is we need to send a message to the Taliban that either action could happen."

In September, NATO carried out Operation Medusa in the Panjwaii District. While they claimed to have killed hundreds of Taliban in the two-week battle, five Canadian soldiers died, including one in a friendly fire incident.

Since that operation, the Taliban have returned to their earlier hit-and-run tactics, including suicide bombings.

With files from The Canadian Press