Canada is temporarily shutting down its embassy in Kabul and suspending diplomatic operations in Afghanistan as the Taliban enter the capital.
It comes after Afghanistan’s embattled president left the country Sunday, joining his fellow citizens and foreigners in a stampede fleeing the advancing Taliban and signaling the end of a 20-year Western experiment aimed at remaking Afghanistan.
“As always, the safety and security of Canadian personnel is our top priority. The current situation poses serious challenges to our ability to ensure the safety and security of our mission. So as of this morning, Canadian diplomatic personnel are on their way back to Canada,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a press conference Sunday.
The government said in a statement released Sunday ahead of Trudeau’s press conference that the current situation in the country poses “serious challenges” to its ability to ensure safety and security at the embassy.
The suspension, the government says, is temporary and its embassy will resume operations in Kabul when it’s safe to do so.
The Taliban have seized nearly all of Afghanistan in just over a week and breached the capital on Sunday, seeking the surrender of the government as residents and foreigners rush to leave the country.
Canada has committed to taking in 20,000 refugees from the country and Afghans who have assisted Canada over the years.
The government is urging Canadians currently in the country to leave immediately.
RELATED: Afghans in Victoria fear for family back home as Taliban gains more ground in Afghanistan
The Canadian Press
