Canada says it knows of hundreds of citizens and permanent residents left in Afghanistan
The Taliban's sweep to power has spurred many people fearing reprisals to flee the country
As the Taliban declared victory this morning, the federal government said roughly 1,250 Canadian citizens, permanent residents and family members remain in Afghanistan.
Canada was part of a coalition airlifting those seeking refuge out of the country as the Taliban seized control of Kabul. The government said it was able to get 3,700 people out of Afghanistan, but last week couldn't answer how many citizens were stranded.
On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau said the government is now aware of 1,250 Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their families still in Afghanistan.
The government also announced it has reached an agreement with the U.S. to "co-operate the safe passage and departure from Afghanistan of our nationals, Afghan nationals who have served both countries, as well as their families."
As part of that deal, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said it will accept 5,000 Afghan refugees who were evacuated by the U.S. They will form part of Canada's previously announced program to bring in 20,000 refugees.
WATCH | Garneau says there are roughly 1,250 Canadian nationals still in Afghanistan
"We want to welcome Afghan families who've helped Canadians, who fought for justice, who've fought for rights for the LGBT community, for women, for journalists," Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said on the campaign trail today.
"We want to welcome them to Canada, to build a better life. And people are ready to open their homes, their communities and our country once again to people fleeing violence."
Mendicino said Canada and its allies have received word from the Taliban that those with proper documentation can leave the country,
"Over the weekend, Canada and its allies received assurances from the Taliban that Afghan citizens with travel authorization from other countries would be allowed to safely leave Afghanistan," he said.
"We have a clear commitment from the Taliban, and we are going to hold them to it."
Earlier Tuesday morning, the Taliban marched into Kabul's international airport, hours after the final U.S. troop withdrawal that ended the U.S.'s longest war.
"Afghanistan is finally free," Hekmatullah Wasiq, a top Taliban official, told The Associated Press on the tarmac.
"The military and civilian side [of the airport] are with us and in control. Hopefully, we will be announcing our cabinet. Everything is peaceful. Everything is safe."
Garneau urged those still in the country to stay put while coalition officials work to figure next steps. He said he's speaking with his counterpart in Pakistan about processing refugees crossing into that country.
Last week, as the airlift mission wrapped, the government said visas issued to those Afghans eligible to come to Canada will remain valid even if they haven't left the country yet.
WATCH | "We want to welcome Afghans who have helped Canadians:" Trudeau
Mendicino said his department is working to make sure the language on the documents is updated so people can leave the country.
The Liberals have faced mounting criticism of their government's response to the crisis on the campaign trail so far with both Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh suggesting they responded too late.
With files from The Associated Press
