The identity of a soldier from Thunder Bay, Ont., killed in Afghanistan was revealed Saturday as one of the deadliest months for Canadian troops in decades came to an end.

Pte. Josh Klukie was on foot patrol Friday when he stepped on an insurgent's explosive booby trap in the Panjwaii district west of Kandahar City.

A military official said Friday the explosive was big enough to be an anti-tank mine.

Pte. Klukie was the 10th Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan in September, and the 37th since 2002.

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Canadian Soldier Killed in Afghanistan
CEFCOM NR–06.026

September 29, 2006

OTTAWA - A Canadian soldier was killed today by an improvised explosive device, while he was conducting a foot patrol in the Panjwayi district, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. The incident occurred at approximately 1:00 p.m. Kandahar time, about 25 km west of Kandahar City. A second soldier suffered minor hearing loss as a result of the blast. No other soldiers were injured in the explosion and there are no reports of civilian casualties.

The name of the fallen soldier is being withheld at the request of the next of kin.

Canadian Forces personnel are currently conducting security and reconstruction operations in the Panjwayi district as part of Operation MEDUSA, the large-scale International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) stabilization operation aimed at removing armed militants from the Panjwayi and Zhari district regions. Displaced villagers are now returning to their homes to re-establish their livelihoods without fear of Taliban intimidation.

Insurgent forces left behind an inordinate amount of explosive devices, which were indiscriminately planted and scattered to deliberately kill and wound Afghan civilians and soldiers alike. ISAF has carried out 52 ordnance disposal missions in the past two weeks in the area.

Though saddened by the news that a comrade has fallen in the line of duty, Canadian troops in Afghanistan remain staunchly committed to the critical mission of helping the Afghan people achieve peace and stability and rebuild their country and institutions