Canadian Forces will be pulling out of Afghanistan prior to the Americans, though an exact date has yet to be specified.
U-S President Joe Biden is sticking with the August 31st deadline despite pressure during G7 meetings on Tuesday to extend it.
“As the Americans finalize their drawdown to meet their deadline, partner nations including Canada must drawdown our troops, assets, and aircraft ahead of the Americans,” explains Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan. “These moves are necessary for the U.S. to safely maintain control of the airport until they depart, and these are the parameters we are working within.”
Government officials couldn’t confirm Wednesday how many more Afghans will be evacuated to Canada before the military withdrawal, adding it will depend entirely on how many more flights are available.
Sajjan also couldn’t answer whether any individuals with Canadian passports will be left in Afghanistan after military forces leave the nation.
“Our Canadian Armed Forces have taken extraordinary measures to get Canadian citizens out,” says Sajjan. “I don’t have the numbers, but the type of work that they have planned and executed to bring Canadian citizens back to the airport, has been actually quite amazing.”
Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Marco Mendicino stressed that even after Canadian Forces leave the country, the government will continue to help the Afghan people.
“The military evacuation will conclude, yet our support of the people in Afghanistan will continue, and increase, as we transition to the next phase of the operation,” says Mendicino. “Even after the coalition withdraws, we will continue with this mission to get you out.”
More than 70,000 people in total have been evacuated from Kabul since the Taliban arrived in the capital on Aug. 14.
As of Wednesday morning, the Canadian Military has airlifted around 2,700 people out of Afghanistan.
