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Canada to open embassy in Afghanistan in January
Ottawa, June 11: Canada plans to open its first embassy in Afghanistan in January, Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham has said.
Ottawa, June 11: Canada plans to open its first embassy in Afghanistan in January, Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham has said.
Canadian diplomats and aid workers already are working in
the capital, Kabul, but an embassy will take months to set up
because of security concerns, Graham said yesterday.
It will be Canada's first embassy or consulate in Afghanistan. Previously, the Canadian High Commissioner in Pakistan doubled as ambassador to Kabul.
Canada broke diplomatic ties with Afghanistan after the Soviet invasion of 1979. Relations resumed in 2002 after the ouster of the Taliban regime.
"The rebuilding of Afghanistan's political and economic institutions in a secure environment is essential to the country's long-term stability and key to ensuring that it does not revert to being a safe haven for terrorists,'' Graham said at a news conference with Defense Minister John McCallum and international cooperation minister Susan Whelan. Bureau Report
It will be Canada's first embassy or consulate in Afghanistan. Previously, the Canadian High Commissioner in Pakistan doubled as ambassador to Kabul.
Canada broke diplomatic ties with Afghanistan after the Soviet invasion of 1979. Relations resumed in 2002 after the ouster of the Taliban regime.
"The rebuilding of Afghanistan's political and economic institutions in a secure environment is essential to the country's long-term stability and key to ensuring that it does not revert to being a safe haven for terrorists,'' Graham said at a news conference with Defense Minister John McCallum and international cooperation minister Susan Whelan. Bureau Report