As the United States withdraws from Afghanistan, Canada plans to accept hundreds of vulnerable Afghan interpreters, embassy staff and their families. Afghanistan Twenty years later, a government source said on Wednesday.
Canada’s combat mission in Afghanistan ended ten years ago, and the country has since resettled about 800 Afghans who had served as translators or other roles for the country.
A government source who requested anonymity due to sensitive information said that the interpreters who are now in Afghanistan and the Afghan staff of the Canadian Embassy in Kabul want to leave, and Canada hopes to bring them in as immigrants.
Many people worry that if the U.S. forces withdraw, the Taliban will retaliate against their relations with Western countries.
The source said that there are about 45 embassy staff and their families, a total of about 235 people, at least 40 interpreters and their families.
Canada hopes to bring them out as soon as possible, but sources cannot give a clear timetable. The source said that they may be resettled refugees or other immigrant flows, but may be granted permanent resident status on arrival.
The move comes as the United States is looking for countries to accept thousands of Afghans who have spent 20 years in the US military.
According to sources, Canada has no plans to accept Afghans working for the United States.
The U.S. military handed over a key air base to Afghanistan for the first time in 20 years
Last month, Human Rights Watch called on relevant countries in Afghanistan, including Canada, to “urgently expedite” the visa processing and relocation of Afghan interpreters and other employees.
“Afghans who cooperate with foreign troops or embassies face a huge risk of Taliban retaliation,” Patricia Gosman, deputy director of Asia, said in a statement.
