“Fair enough”: Garneau accepts criticism of Canada’s evacuation efforts in Afghanistan

[ad_1]

TORONTO – Foreign Minister Marc Garneau on Sunday acknowledged public criticism of the Canadian government over its evacuation operation in Afghanistan, saying no one could predict how quickly the country would fall into Taliban hands.

“As for the criticism that we started too late – fair enough, fair enough,” Garneau said during question period on CTV. “No one foresaw how quickly the Taliban would take control of the country, probably including the Taliban themselves, and how quickly the Afghan National Army would surrender or flee, but it happened.”

Amid warnings from the Pentagon about the impending collapse of Afghanistan, Garneau said his office was still working to get vulnerable Canadians and Afghans out of the country despite the end of the evacuation operation from Canada on Thursday.

“What we’re focusing on now is moving forward because there are still a lot of Canadians, there are permanent residents and there are vulnerable Afghans that we want to get out of the country, and that’s what we’re focusing on, ”he said.

“We take the criticism and move forward to try to deal with the situation.”

Officials said Friday that Canada had evacuated about 3,700 people, including 2,000 Afghans. Compared to other NATO countries, Canada lags behind Germany and Italy in the total number of refugees withdrawn by a member state.

With the Taliban having closed access to Kabul airport, Garneau admitted that it would now be even more difficult to get people out of the country. However, he said negotiations were underway between NATO countries and the Taliban to allow local allies to leave.

“We think the Taliban should seriously consider the benefits of having an open commercial airport, so it’s an exit port for people who wish to leave the country,” he said. “Also, the assurance that if they choose to leave via a neighboring country, they will not be hampered at the border.”

When asked if Canada is negotiating directly with the Taliban, whom the federal government has called a terrorist organization, to reopen the airspace around Kabul, Garneau admitted that the ongoing talks are being conducted through the United States.

“We are talking to the Americans, who are talking directly to the Taliban,” he said, “and of course we are part of the G7, we are part of the United Nations, we are part of the G20.”

Canada’s special immigration route remains open to Afghan nationals and their families who assisted Canadian military personnel during their mission in Afghanistan.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino told a press conference on Friday that visas would remain valid for those who had not yet fled and that the government continued to process “applications around the clock.”

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Garneau said those still trapped in Afghanistan should “stay put” for now to see how the situation unfolds, but if they can get to a “third country,” the Local Canadian diplomats may be able to provide further assistance.

With files from CTVNews.cas Sarah Turnbull in Ottawa

[ad_2]