Ottawa sought EU help in Afghanistan after Taliban takeover: documents – National | 24CA News
Canada requested use of the European Union’s compound in Kabul to assist with duties reminiscent of fingerprinting for these fleeing Afghanistan, based on paperwork obtained by The Canadian Press.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly made the request on Jan. 20, 2022, based on paperwork obtained by means of an access-to-information request.
“Minister Joly asked EU High Representative (Josep) Borrell about the possibility for Canada to co-locate with the EU in Kabul, in order to conduct biometric screening from their premises,” reads a July 2022 briefing be aware.
The doc says the EU replied in early April 2022, providing area for 2 Canadian officers within the compound “on the condition that biometric screening be performed in a third location managed by the Government of Canada.”
It notes that one month later, senior bureaucrats for Global Affairs Canada “determined that it would be very difficulty to proceed with the EU offer.”
That could also be as a result of there are points for Afghans attempting to entry the Kabul compound because the Taliban takeover.
But as of June 2022, the briefing be aware states “we are still assessing the legal, duty-of-care and operational implications of this offer,” including there are “significant legal constraints that limit Canada’s ability to re-establish any kind of presence in Kabul.”
The Department of Global Affairs wouldn’t say whether or not it ended up stationing anyone on the EU compound.
“We do not discuss operational details of our missions abroad for security reasons,” spokeswoman Patricia Skinner wrote.
“Canada remains committed to Afghanistan and the Afghan people, and we will continue to do all that we can to support them.”
The Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship wouldn’t say if Ottawa declined or accepted the provide, or whether or not it nonetheless stands.
“For operational security reasons, we are unable to provide specific information,” wrote spokesman Matthew Krupovich.
He stated the federal government’s efforts to resettle individuals fleeing the nation have been hindered by entry and exit necessities by each the Taliban and neighbouring international locations.
“Canada’s lack of military, diplomatic and overall presence in Afghanistan has also presented challenges in how we collect and verify the information of applicants who remain in their country, but Canada continues to explore options.”
The EU delegation in Ottawa didn’t reply to requests for remark.
Last fall, media studies revealed Canada had been in common talks with the Taliban, beginning simply weeks after it took over Afghanistan in August 2021.
The Trudeau authorities insisted it is not going to acknowledge the Taliban because the nation’s authorities, however stated Canadian diplomats joined Western friends in discussions with Taliban officers in Qatar to be able to advocate for women’ training.
Some regional consultants have proposed that Western allies launch a multi-country consultant workplace in lieu of formal embassies in Afghanistan, to maintain observe of the human rights state of affairs within the nation.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
