KABUL — Defence Minister David Pratt said Tuesday Canada can still make a significant contribution after scaling down its presence in Afghanistan this summer, but he offered no details about the future Canadian military role in the country.

Afghan President Hamed Karzai and NATO have put out the call for small, mobile armed units -- called provincial reconstruction teams -- to secure the Afghan countryside and assist in rebuilding the war-torn country.

Pratt said that option is not among his priorities for the next Canadian mission starting in August, but he did not say what Canada will do instead.

"There are other contributions that can be made from the standpoint of security in Afghanistan as a whole," Pratt said after meeting with Karzai. "There are obviously many needs as far as security is concerned here in Afghanistan and I think the international community can expect Canada to make a meaningful, very tangible contribution."

Canada will cut its contingent in Afghanistan when the current group of 2,100 soldiers finish their tour in August. Pratt said about 500 soldiers will replace them.

"This next phase of the operation, as far as the Canadian Forces are concerned, is obviously going to be scaled down significantly," Pratt said.

"Having said that, I think we can make a significant contribution with our 500 or so troops."

Pratt said he is waiting to hear the details of an expected troop contribution from Eurocorps, a corps of 60,000 European troops from Germany, France, Spain, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Pratt and former prime minister Joe Clark met with Karzai for 25 minutes Tuesday morning. Clark said Karzai never made a direct request for Canada to contribute to the provincial teams that will provide security, distribute aid and resolve disputes in the regions.

Clark, who sits as an opposition MP, expressed support for Pratt's wait-and-see approach.

"There are a lot of roles Canada can play," Clark said. "It makes perfect sense for the minister to go back to his colleagues in cabinet and look at who in NATO is going to do what."

Canada provides nearly 40 per cent of the 6,000 troops who are part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Canadian Lt.-Gen. Rick Hillier took command of the ISAF operation Monday.

Gen. Ray Henault, Canada's top general, said the military has no choice but to scale down the commitment to Afghanistan. He said the army, navy and air force will need a year to 18 months to recover from recent commitments.

"There comes a time when a force has to have time to take a pause to regenerate itself for whatever comes next," said Henault.

He said about 1,000 to 1,500 troops will remain overseas during the rest period.

The military spent millions setting up Camp Julien near Kabul as an operating base and to house, feed and entertain 2,100 troops and hundreds of civilian support workers.

Even though supporters of the Canadian Forces often complain it is cash-starved, Henault said the money was well spent.

"This investment is one that we think will be here for us and for allies," Henault said.

"It's a good investment in the long-term prospects that we have for Afghanistan. And ultimately we may find ourselves back here again if that's what government decides to do."