Canada sends special forces to Afghanistan to shut down its embassy in Kabul, says an official
Canadian special forces would be deployed in Afghanistan, where workers at the Canadian embassy in Kabul will be evacuated before it is closed.
These moves highlight the astonishing speed of the Taliban's control of much of the country, including the capture of Kandahar on Thursday.
The Taliban group ruled the country from 1996 until the invasion of US forces after the September 11 attacks, took control of 12 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals in a week-long sweep.
Just weeks before the United States is scheduled to end its war in Afghanistan, the Biden administration is also sending 3,000 new troops to Kabul airport to help with the partial evacuation of the US embassy.
These moves highlight the astonishing speed of Taliban control of much of the country, including Thursday's capture of Kandahar, the Taliban's second-largest city and its birthplace.
Britain also said on Thursday it would send about 600 troops to Afghanistan to help UK nationals leave the country amid growing concerns about the security situation. Danish lawmakers have approved the evacuation of 45 Afghan citizens who worked with the Danish government in Afghanistan and granting them residency in the European country for two years.
About 40,000 Canadian soldiers were deployed to Afghanistan over 13 years as part of the NATO mission before withdrawing in 2014.
The first batch of Afghan refugees who supported Canada's military mission in Afghanistan arrived in Canada earlier this month. Last month, the Canadian government announced a unique program to resettle Afghans who are "an integral part" of the Canadian Armed Forces' urgent mission, including interpreters, chefs, drivers, cleaners, construction workers, security guards, and embassy staff, as well as personnel from their families.
The United States deploys forces in Kabul to evacuate the embassy
The government says that more than 800 Afghans who supported the mission have resettled in Canada over the past decade, but it has acknowledged more of them in Afghanistan.
Taliban ruled the country from 1996 until the invasion of US forces after the 9/11 attacks, took control of 12 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals as part of a week-long sweep that gave them effective control of about two-thirds of Afghanistan's territory country.
The capture of Kandahar and Herat is the Taliban's biggest reward to date. The former Canadian military mission was based in Kandahar. More than 150 Canadian soldiers were killed during the mission in Afghanistan. ′
A spokeswoman for Global Affairs Canada declined to comment on details about the embassy.
"The security of the Canadian Embassy and the safety of our staff in Kabul are our top priorities. we will not comment on specific operational issues for our overseas missions," spokeswoman Ciara Trudeau said in an email.
A close-up of the Moderna vaccine is seen at the Park County Health Department's COVID-19 vaccination clinic for seniors 80 years of age and older on January 28, 2021, in Livingston, Montana.
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