Afghanistan–Canada relations

Afghan-Canadian relations

Afghanistan
Canada
Diplomatic Mission
Afghani Embassy, Ottawa Canadian Embassy, Kabul
Afghan embassy in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Afghanistan–Canada relations are relations between Afghanistan and Canada.

The Canadian government announced in February 2009 that it was adding Afghanistan to its list of preferred countries to receive foreign aid. This list includes 18 countries and the West Bank and Caribbean region.[1]

History

Beginning

Official relations between Afghanistan and Canada did not occur immediately, but developed over time. Canadians involvement in Afghanistan dates back to the 1960s, with the creation of the first Canadian development assistance program to Afghanistan. As the need for greater coordination of efforts by development agencies working there grew, the Government of Canada decided to establish full diplomatic relations with Afghanistan in 1968.[2]

In 1971, Canadian aid to Afghanistan included 257 000 bushels of wheat, where drought had reduced production of cereal crops.[3]

Soviet war in Afghanistan

The Soviet war in Afghanistan in 1979 and the installation of an undemocratic regime in Afghanistan led Canada to sever diplomatic ties. Even after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989 the two countries did not re-establish full diplomatic relations, and contact was minimal despite humanitarian aid efforts by Canada in the 1990s.

Taliban period

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 1996. Canada became an outspoken critic of the Taliban's human rights abuses against the citizens of Afghanistan. Canada continued to provide humanitarian aid to the country despite Taliban restrictions on aid agencies.

War in Afghanistan

The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks prompted Canada to re-evaluate its polices toward Afghanistan. The Minister of National Defence Art Eggleton authorized more than 100 Canadian Forces members serving on military exchange programs in the United States and other countries to participate in the War in Afghanistan. Although Canada did not participate in the opening days of the war, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced on October 7 that Canada would contribute forces to the international force being formed to conduct a campaign against terrorism. General Ray Henault, the Chief of the Defence Staff, issued preliminary orders to several CF units, as Operation Apollo was established. The Canadian commitment was originally planned to last to October 2003.

Canada re-established diplomatic relations with Afghanistan on January 25, 2002.[4]

Diplomatic relationships

Former Canadian Ambassador William Crosbie makes remarks during the opening of the refurbished Turquoise Mountain Foundation in Kabul on May 9, 2011.

Canada has an embassy in Kabul. In July 2009, an agreement on handing over of eight acre land by the Afghan government to Canadian embassy was signed in Kabul by the Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs (Rangeen Dadfar Spanta) and the Canadian ambassador (Ron Hoffmann). The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has an embassy in Ottawa and a consulate in Toronto. One recent Canadian ambassador was Glenn V. Davidson. His successor is Deborah Lyons, a long-time federal civil servant. Afghan ambassador Jawed Ludin.[5] completed his assignment in Ottawa in December 2010 and the position was filled by Barna Karimi in March 2012.

Afghan Ambassador to Canada

List of Afghan Representatives in Ottawa since 2002:

Source: Afghan Embassay[6]

Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan

Notes

  1. ↑ Alexander Panetta, "Canada limits main foreign aid recipients to 20 countries", Canada East website (accessed 3 March 2009)
  2. ↑ Phillips, Karen (4 February 2008). "Afghanistan: Canadian Diplomatic Engagement". Library of Parliament.
  3. ↑ "Canada wheat to Afghanistan". The Montreal Gazette. 31 August 1971.
  4. ↑ Canwest News Service (January 22, 2008). "Afghanistan and Canada: a timeline". The National Post.
  5. ↑ "Biography of the Ambassador". Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  6. ↑ http://afghanemb-canada.net/embassy-afghanistan-embassy-canada-ottawa/about-the-embassy-afghanistan-embassy-canada-ottawa.html
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