Canada’s Garneau cites ‘economic’ leverage as Taliban pledge safe passage for those fleeing Afghanistan – By Joseph Brean (National Post) / Aug 29 2021
Passage out of Afghanistan is easier said than done, however, now that the Kabul airport is overrun and evacuation flights appear to have been stopped for good
The Taliban have pledged free passage out of Afghanistan for people authorized to travel to other countries, even after the American military departs on its deadline this Tuesday, according to a joint statement of governments around the world, including Canada.
“We are all committed to ensuring that our citizens, nationals and residents, employees, Afghans who have worked with us and those who are at risk can continue to travel freely to destinations outside Afghanistan,” reads the letter signed by nearly 100 countries.
In interviews with CBC on Sunday before the statement was released, Marc Garneau, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said Canada is not in direct contact with the Taliban, but is working through allies who are, such as the United States and France. He said Canada’s leverage over the Taliban to help ensure the safety of people left behind is “primarily economic,” basically involving humanitarian aid.
“There’s all sorts of leverage with respect to the Taliban, who are now confronting the fact they’re in charge and they’re going to have to make the country work,” Garneau said.
