Prime Minister Stephen Harper used the parliamentary break to show up in Afghanistan, where he posed with Afghan children instead of Canadian soldiers.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai also appeared before the cameras with Harper in Kabul on Tuesday, telling him: "Canada, we are grateful to you. Canada, your assistance has meant the world for us."

Harper picked up on that theme, saying: "The people and the government of Afghanistan want us here. The Canadian men and women in uniform and people who work in various government agencies believe in this mission.

"So I am not here because of the polls. I am here because it is the right thing to do."

The most recent poll by The Strategic Counsel for CTV and The Globe and Mail has 55 per cent of respondents opposing the sending of Canadian troops, with 40 per cent supporting it.

Liberal MP Karen Redman told CTV Newsnet's Mike Duffy Live that "there's no new announcement. The prime minister asked no members of the opposition to go with him."

For that reason, one has to see some politics behind the trip, she said.

"I think the reality is he's trying to deflect the criticism that he's had at home in Parliament and from the Canadian public," added Libby Davies, the NDP's house leader.

Detainee issue

Harper's two-day trip comes when his government has been under fire for the Afghan detainee issue. Media reports have cited Afghan prisoners captured by Canadians as saying they were tortured and abused after being transferred into Afghan custody.

If true, that would put Canadians in violation of international law, critics say.

"We do not have any such cases of torture," Karzai said.

A 2006 Canadian government report has indicated that torture and other human rights abuses are problems in Afghanistan.

The Strategic Counsel poll also found, however, that 56 per cent said Canada shouldn't be held responsible for what happens to prisoners held in Afghan-controlled detention centres.

Despite his denials, Karzai vowed the days of human rights abuses are over in his country.

"My objective in life is to bring to the Afghan people the certainty of safety and security and life within the rule of law and bring a guarantee that no Afghan regardless of his status -- innocent or criminal -- will be tortured," Karzai said.

"It's a personal concern that I have. And it's a commitment the Afghan people would want me to make to the rest of the world. I will assure the Canadian people that if there is any such incident Afghans will be the first to take me to task on it ... Take my guarantee to the Canadian people on that.''

Mission objectives

Karzai said the Afghan mission's objectives are to make sure the country no longer poses a threat, and to stabilize it so that terror-support regimes don't seize control.

The Afghan leader said the first mandate has been reached and urged Canada to follow through on supporting the second objective.

"Has the job been completely done? Have we accomplished all we are seeking? No -- if we leave half the way (Islamic militants) will re-emerge and haunt you back home whenever they want to. Let us complete it and not abandon it half the way.''

Karzai outlined the benefits that his country has seen as a result of Canada's efforts:

• 10,000 jobs have been created in Kandahar;
• 30,000 people, mostly women, have had access to microcredit loans; and
• 40,000 more infants have survived childbirth

Harper lightened the mood at one point by presenting Karzai with a tiny Ottawa Senators jersey for his infant son to wear.

"These are not members of our upper house. These are admired hockey players," Harper said.

Karzai responded that he'd like his son to "play hockey as soon as he can walk on his feet."

Harper met with students at a local school for underprivileged children and dropped in on their painting, acting, woodworking and music classes.

"I have no talent for painting at all. Zero," Harper joked.

The Aschiana School, located in a tightly guarded compound in the capital's downtown core, received $39,500 in annual funding from the Canadian government. More than 10,000 Afghan children attend the school.

Harper also visited diplomats at the Canadian Embassy for a briefing on progress since the Taliban was ousted in late 2001.

This is Harper's second trip to Afghanistan. He made the war-torn country his destination for his first foreign trip as prime minister, barely one month after taking office in early 2006.

On that three-day trip, most of Harper's time was dedicated to visiting military installations and soldiers.

The prime minister will be visiting Canadian soldiers in Kandahar on Wednesday.

"The prime minister is going to chow down at breakfast with the troops. He's going to have greasy bacon and greasy eggs and stale bread," Robert Fife, CTV's Ottawa bureau chief, told MDL from Afghanistan.

"There'll be a big rally outside, and he'll be giving a pretty big pep talk to the soldiers."

With a report from CTV's Robert Fife and files from The Canadian Press