A repatriation ceremony held Aug. 4 at CFB Trenton, Ont. for Sapper Mathieu Allard, 21, and Cpl. Christian Bobbitt, 23, who died in Afghanistan three days earlier. (CBC)

The latest quarterly review in Afghanistan shows the most deaths among coalition forces in one three-month period since fighting began in 2001.

During the period, which ended Sept. 30 and included the national electoral campaign and presidential vote, 223 allied soldiers were killed across Afghanistan. Of the total, 30, including 11 Canadians, died in combat in Kandahar, says the report released Friday by the federal Conservatives.

Officials in the report noted "insurgents have seized the initiative, both in the armed conflict and by creating a crisis of confidence among the populace through the equally important 'silent war' of fear, intimidation and persuasion."

August was the deadliest month in 2009 for Afghan civilian casualties, with more than two-thirds resulting from insurgent violence, the report said. It also noted that on Aug. 20, there were nearly 450 security incidents, the highest number on a single day since 2001.

But the report also noted that while voter turnout was down and election results were marred by fraud, the number of candidates increased compared to the 2004 election. Also, for the first time, presidential candidates engaged in political debates on the issues, making use of television and radio.

As well, two female candidates contested the presidential race and 326 women contested seats in their respective provincial councils — a 14 per cent increase over 2005.

"Eight years since the allied ouster of the Taliban regime, the Afghanistan balance sheet presents both pluses and minuses," the report says.

But it also added that Canada’s engagement in Afghanistan "is contributing directly to strengthening such institutions, to increasing the capacity of the Afghan government to extend basic services, and to bolstering the ability of Afghan forces to provide security."

Among other notes of progress:

• The Afghan army assumed more responsibility for security in Kandahar City and surrounding villages, where Canadian troops train and mentor Afghan soldiers. They executed 80 per cent of security operations and led more than 70 per cent of them.
• As of this quarter, more than 500 Afghans in key districts of Kandahar have received microfinance loans.
• Seven more schools were built under Canada's supervision, bringing the total number completed to 12, with another 21 under construction.
• More than 880,000 children were vaccinated against polio.

With files from The Canadian Press