Kandahar (Afghanistan), Dec. 12: US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said that Canadian troops should continue fighting the war in Afghanistan after their mission''s scheduled end in 2011.

Speaking with front-line commanders and the press, Gates was quoted by the Globe and Mail as saying: "Everybody would agree that holding your own isn''t good enough. The countries that have partnered with the United States and Afghanistan here in RC-South have made an extraordinary commitment."

"Proportionally, none have worked harder or sacrificed more than the Canadians. They have been outstanding partners for us, and all I can tell you, as has been the case for a very long time, the longer we can have Canadian soldiers as our partners, the better it is," he said. (ANI)