Canadians were left behind in Kabul despite government's claims: Report

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The Department of Foreign Affairs closed its embassy in Kabul even though it knew Canadian citizens remained left behind and trapped inside Afghanistan, according to Blackrock’s Reporter.

At the outset of the collapse in Kabul, cabinet initially claimed all Canadians were “safely on their way back to Canada.”

“Canada is aware there are Canadians seeking to return home,” said John Babcock, spokesperson for the department told Blacklock’s. “We are working in close coordination with our allies on the ground to secure their safe exit.”

The department did not say how many Canadians were left behind, or why diplomats did not arrange to have all citizens immediately evacuated aboard military flights that began Aug. 4.

“We continue to work with allies to evacuate as many Canadians and vulnerable Afghans from Afghanistan as possible and bring them to safety in Canada,” Babcock told the Sun on Monday afternoon.

Global Affairs Canada retweeted a message Sunday that said “Don’t go to the airport unless you have received clear and specific instructions from Canadian officials. Use your judgement to decide if you should stay or move to a safer location.”

Also on Monday, Canadian officials gave a background briefing to reporters – on the condition they not be named — where they disclosed special forces are operating outside the confines of Kabul’s chaotic airport to get people on flights out of Afghanistan.

The officials would not provide more details, citing the sensitivity of the security situation.

They said a Canadian C-17 Globemaster carried 436 people out of Kabul airport on Sunday night, including Canadian citizens and family members, as well as Afghan nationals accepted for resettlement by Canada and its allies – up from the 121 airlifted a day earlier.

Also — according to Blacklock’s Reporter — the government would not account for poor planning.

A 2019 report by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service correctly predicted Afghanistan “could collapse quickly” once U.S. forces withdrew.

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The report from January 21, 2019 — entitled “The Precarious Struggle for Stability” — said the country “could collapse quickly” after American troops were withdrawn with a “high probability of a rapid victory” for the Taliban.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said Monday he will be taking part in a G7 meeting Tuesday looking at ways to address the escalating crisis.