(Ottawa) The Ambassador of Afghanistan urges the Canadian government to deploy officials there to neighboring countries, such as Pakistan, to help Afghans who want to flee the Taliban reach Canada as soon as possible.
Ambassador Hassan Soroosh also wants the international community to put pressure on the Taliban to open airports so that more commercial flights can evacuate those who wish to leave.
According to the diplomat, thousands of Afghans, threatened with persecution by the Taliban, have applied to come to Canada, but their applications are not yet being processed.
Mr. Soroosh suggests that Canada strengthen its diplomatic posts in Pakistan and other neighboring countries to “accelerate” the exodus of desperate Afghans. He believes Canada should also deploy officials to help the United Nations process the requests.
The Ambassador also calls on Canada and other Western countries to provide emergency food aid to Afghanistan, in order to avoid a humanitarian tragedy this winter. He warns that without help, the country faces a “disaster”.
Mr. Soroosh warns that if poverty increases in Afghanistan, the population could turn to the militant group Islamic State, which competes with the Taliban for control of parts of the country.
He believes that even if Canada does not recognize the Taliban, Ottawa can still help the Afghan people through the United Nations or independent non-governmental organizations.
The ambassador assures that he is not in contact with the Taliban. He maintains that his salary and that of his staff are paid from the Embassy’s reserves. Soroosh says he remains in office to represent the country and its people – not the Taliban regime.