CBCnews

Negotiating Afghanistan

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is busy trying to forge a consensus on an extension of the Afghanistan mission past February 2009.

Harper met with Liberal Leader Stephane Dion earlier this week. Dion emerged saying he is sticking to his view that there should be no combat role past past February 2009 — that the emphasis should be on training Afghan forces.

Today Harper will be talking to NDP Leader Jack Layton. Layton says he will press the point that he believes the military mission is not working and that the United Nations, not NATO, should be leading a reconfigured mission.

Layton says he's not optimistic he will be able to sway the Prime Minister.