Harjit Sajjan repeatedly said sorry today for what he called a "mistake" while being grilled by opposition lawmakers about his remark last month during a speech in India.
The battle involving Canada's Operation Medusa was planned and executed in 2006 by then-Maj. Gen. David Fraser, who was responsible for all NATO forces in southern Afghanistan.
At the time of the operation, Sajjan was a major in Afghanistan, a much lower rank.
Interim Conservative opposition leader Rona Ambrose criticised Sajjan's initial comment as "stolen valour" and asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to dismiss him.