Canada says it knows of hundreds of citizens and permanent residents left in Afghanistan

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 1,250Canadian citizens, permanent residents andtheir families still in Afghanistan.

The government also announced ithas reached an agreement with the U.S. to "co-operatethesafe passage anddeparturefromAfghanistanof our nationals,Afghan nationals who have servedbothcountries, as well as their families."

As part of that deal,Immigration Minister Marco Mendicinosaid itwill accept 5,000 Afghan refugees who were evacuated by the U.S. They will form part ofCanada's previously announced program to bring in20,000refugees.

WATCH |Garneau says there are roughly 1,250 Canadian nationals still in Afghanistan

Garneau says there are roughly 1,250 Canadian nationals still in Afghanistan

3 years ago

Duration 0:51

Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau says Canada will work with allies to get Canadian nationals out of Afghanistan, and also help Afghan civilians trying to flee the country.

"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."

Mendicinosaid 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 Talibanmarched 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 refugeescrossing 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 Afghanswho have helped Canadians:"Trudeau

'We want to welcome Afghans who have helped Canadians' - Trudeau

3 years ago

Duration 1:15

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says Canadians are ready to welcome Afghans fleeing war

Mendicino said his department is working to make sure the language on the documents is updated so people can leave the country.

The Liberalshavefaced mounting criticismof their government's response to the crisis on the campaign trail so far with both Conservative Leader Erin O'Tooleand NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh suggesting they responded too late.