Release near for ex-general held in Kabul
Security consultant detained in dispute over operating licence
MONTREAL — Daniel Menard, who was once Canada’s top soldier in Afghanistan and now heads a Montreal security firm’s operations in Kabul, could be released from detention there Saturday.
Arrested Jan. 10 in a dispute over an operating licence, the managing director of GardaWorld for Afghanistan is being treated well, a company executive said Thursday from Britain.
There’s no guarantee, but Menard’s release looks “imminent,” said the executive with GardaWorld’s U.K. operations, who spoke on condition his name be withheld for security reasons.
“It’s quite tricky — you need the right official in the right place and the stamp on the piece of paper.
“Over there, regulations can be a bit complicated, and they’re actually in a transitional mode at the moment.
“Tomorrow it’s Friday, so the end of the (Afghan) weekend… I would hope (Menard’s release) will come as soon as they get back to work. It could be Saturday.”
Menard’s detention began 2-1/2 weeks ago after a meeting with Afghan authorities to clear up paperwork involving GardaWorld’s licence.
“It started off with him just talking with them, discussing things,” said the executive, who was not there but was briefed on the situation.
“And they then said, ‘OK, we’ve started the discussion, let’s continue it — you’re not going anywhere until we’ve finished sorting this out.’
“The Afghan authorities have been very helpful in clarifying their requirements and we’ve clarified our perception of them. Dan now has the document he needs to get him released.”
Media reports that he was arrested for smuggling 129 rifles and 148 radios without a licence are misconstrued, the executive said. The issue was the operating licence itself, not simply what it allowed or didn’t.
Menard was not charged with any crime and, although he has not been free to leave detention, GardaWorld officials have been free to “come and go” on visits to him, he said.
In Ottawa, Afghan embassy spokesman Khalid Khosraw offered no details on the case. “Reports received thus far by the embassy on the developments surrounding Mr. Menard’s arrest in Kabul are sketchy,” he wrote in an email. “All we can say at this point is that an investigation is underway to determine his role in the alleged ‘gun smuggling.’ ”
A former Canadian brigadier-general and NATO commander in Afghanistan, Menard left the military in December 2010 after an affair with a low-ranking female subordinate was made public.