KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Canada's ambassador to Afghanistan concedes the international community underestimated how hard it would be to help get the country back on its feet.

Ron Hoffmann says there is now a sense of urgency to show tangible progress in Afghanistan. He says Afghans themselves are disappointed with the results of the international intervention. Hoffmann says the next couple of years are going to be crucial in defining the country's future.

In particular, he says, the national government and its security forces will have to strengthen significantly, and Canada is doing its best to help.

He does say the Afghan National Army is getting better as it struggles against a determined insurgency.