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Canadian troops will complete their mission at Kabul Airport on Thursday. Liberal Cabinet Minister Maryam Monsef has caused controversy by demanding the protection of those left behind in the Taliban using the term “brothers.”
Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan must have a powerful delegation of 6,000 people finally leaving the airport on August 31, the US departure deadline, as the United States leads the mission and provides security. Said not. This means that Canadian Special Operations Forces and Crew members must begin preparing for departure in advance.
Canada uses two C-17 transport planes to safely airlift Afghanistan and is one of the 13 countries participating in airlift. There are also special forces operatives on the ground working on the spirit of fleeing flights waiting for Afghans outside the airport.
“Creating a mission takes a lot of time. It’s not done overnight, it comes with a lot of risk,” says Sajjan.
A senior government official who anonymously stated the need to remain operational safe said the last C-17 would leave Kabul sometime Thursday, but it was not clear given the chaotic situation on the ground. .. It was also unclear whether all Canadian military personnel would fly, as Canada and its allies also helped each other by evacuating personnel on various flights.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. military would have to pull out its soldiers and equipment in the coming days, but would prioritize human life and support its partners.
“We are now and working with our allies and partners to help them withdraw their people, and we help them withdraw their troops. “
The pace of Canada’s evacuation efforts has increased significantly over the past three days on Tuesday’s flight. This is part of a desperate effort to completely evacuate all foreigners and vulnerable Afghans who supported Canada and its allies before the recent collapse of Canada and its allies. Taliban.
In addition to the August 31 deadline, when Taliban leaders claimed they could not negotiate, US and Canadian military planners said they were at risk of attacking the airport and hordes of evacuees from Islamic State secessionists. Levant, a group called ISIS-K by the Iraqi country and the Pentagon who are afraid of.
Maj. Gen. Peter Baisley and Maj. Gen. Peter Baisley, two superlative US commanders on the ground in Kabul. Chris Donohue is directly involved in efforts to allow qualified evacuees to enter the airport, Kirby said.
“We are fully aware that not all steps in this process are under our control and may not work as advertised.”
The Minister of Women and Gender Equality, Monsef, used a government briefing to make a direct and ardent appeal to the Taliban to help Afghans flee the country and respect the rights of others left behind.
“I would like to take this opportunity to talk to our brother, the Taliban,” she said in social media and campaign trails as Federalist leaders were vying for votes prior to the September 20 elections. Said in a collection of remarks.
“We call on you to ensure that all individuals in Afghanistan pass safely and reliably abroad. Immediately stop the destruction of infrastructure, including violence, genocide, murder and heritage buildings. Thank you. “
Conservative leader Erin O’Toole said, “The words used by the Trudeau government are completely unacceptable,” referring to Monsef’s use of the phrase “our brother.”
Conservative Dan Albas, who is aiming for reelection in British Columbia, said on Twitter that he strongly opposed Monsef’s use of the term, adding: Disagreements and discussions should never be used as a trigger for personal attacks. “
Monsef was born to Afghan parents in Iran during the heyday of the Soviet Union’s occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s. Her family came to Canada as refugees in the 1990s after fleeing Afghanistan after taking power in Herat, where the Taliban lived at the time.
“I think the whole situation is jarring … terrorists are hijacking the land of my beloved ancestors,” she told the briefing.
“Muslims call each other brothers and sisters,” she added. “Reassuringly, I continue to deeply believe that the Taliban is a terrorist organization.”
NDP leader Jagmate Singh said he was not interested in earning political points at Monsef’s expense.
Foreign Minister Marc Garneau said the security situation is deteriorating and over time “when the AirBridge shuts down, it may not be possible to take everyone who wants it.” ..
A vivid illustration of that despair came with the advent of mobile phone videos posted on Facebook. It seemed that the Canadian troops on the walls of the airport had no connection with the desperate Afghans and were wielding the paperwork needed to come to Canada.
“We have a visa and we have an approved visa with all the instructions … but no one is going to take care of us,” says the English male voice above the scream. ..
Sajan called the video “painful,” but Canada is doing “a tremendous job to safely take Afghans in a threatening environment,” including terrorist groups and the saboteur Taliban. He said there are many other examples of military personnel.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the August 31 deadline did not mean the end of US and ally efforts to drive people out of Afghanistan.
“The Taliban has publicly and privately promised to provide and allow safe passages to Americans, third-country citizens, and Afghans at risk after August 31,” Blinken said. rice field.
Garnot said Canada and the G7 would soon tell the Taliban that they should not block Afghanistan from leaving the country.
“We will develop the necessary approach towards this Taliban administration in the coming days and a very important marker before them on how they should treat Afghans who want to leave the country. We are working together to put in. “
By Mike Blanchfield and James McCarten
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