A senior Canadian official confirms that the Afghan army has made a "huge progress" and is now capable of leading missions against Taliban.

"We see huge progress with the Afghan army," General Walt Natynczyk, Canada's Chief of Defense Staff, told reporters on Wednesday.

"What is terrific to see here, through the Arghandab piece, was that the Afghan military, the Afghan army that we have trained with this past two years, are actually stepping up. It was their plan, it was their leaders, and with that they have renewed confidence," Natynczyk added.

Natynczyk praised the battle in Arghandab last month, in which about 100 Taliban were killed. He added that the Canadian personnel would focus on training more senior officers with Afghan National Army (ANA) before Canadians leave the country in 2011.

Canada deployed 2,500 soldiers in southern Afghanistan as part of a NATO-led force fighting Taliban insurgents in 2002.

Natynczyk, who was serving as vice-chief of defense staff, replaced Gen. Rick Hillier on July 1.

RZS/MMN