Afghanistan–Canada relations

Embassy of Canada in Kabul
Embassy of Canada in Kabul
Location	Kabul
Address	House No. 256، Street No. 15, Kabul 1001
Ambassador	David Sproule (Special Representative)

Embassy of Afghanistan in Ottawa
Embassy of Afghanistan in Ottawa
Location	Ottawa
Address	240 Argyle Ave K2P 1B9
Ambassador	Hassan Soroosh

Afghan-Canadian relations
Diplomatic mission
Afghan Embassy, Ottawa	Afghanistan Unit at the Canadian Embassy Doha, Qatar
Envoy
Ambassador Hassan Soroosh	Special Representative David Sproule

Afghanistan and Canada established diplomatic relations in 1968.^[3] In 2003, Canada opened its embassy in Kabul and appointed its first resident ambassador. Afghanistan appointed its first resident ambassador to Canada in 2002.^[3] In August 2021, Canada closed its embassy in Kabul with the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan.^[4] Since the Taliban 2021 coup, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's embassy in Ottawa continues to be served by diplomats representing the former government; in addition, the Afghan embassy in Canada has been accredited to provide diplomatic services to the United States, following the closure of the country's Washington, D.C. embassy.

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.^[5]

In 1971, Canadian aid to Afghanistan included 257,000 bushels of wheat, where drought had reduced production of cereal crops.^[6]

Soviet–Afghan War

The Soviet–Afghan War in 1979 and the installation of an authoritarian 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 policies toward Afghanistan. The Minister of National Defence Art Eggleton authorized more than 100 Canadian Forces (CF) members serving on military exchange programs in the United States and other countries to participate in the War in Afghanistan. On October 7, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced that Canada had launched Operation Apollo, contributing expanded CF personnel and equipment to the international force being formed to conduct a campaign against terrorism.^[7] The Canadian commitment was originally planned to last to October 2003.

Canada re-established diplomatic relations with Afghanistan on January 25, 2002.^[8]

Diplomatic relationships

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). As of 2024^[update], the last Canadian ambassador appointed to the Canadian Embassy in Kabul was Reid Sirrs, who left in late 2020 when the embassy temporarily suspended operations due to safety concerns in the lead-up to the Taliban breaching of the capital in 2021.^[9] In October 2022, Canada resumed a level of diplomatic operations when David Sproule was appointed Special Representative of Canada in Afghanistan.

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has an embassy in Ottawa and a consulate in Toronto. Ambassador Jawed Ludin^[10] completed his assignment in Ottawa in December 2010 and the position was filled by Barna Karimi in March 2012. The current ambassador, representing the former government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is career diplomat Hassan Soroosh; the embassy in Canada, like the few others still operating on behalf of the former republic, are operating on a significantly reduced budget, funded by the limited revenue from fees for providing consular services.^[2]

Resident diplomatic missions

Embassy of Afghanistan, Ottawa

The Embassy of Afghanistan is the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's embassy in Ottawa. It is located at 240 Algyre Avenue (45°24′39″N 75°41′28″W / 45.4107151°N 75.6911441°W / 45.4107151; -75.6911441) in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

The embassy has been also been accredited as providing relations to the United States, since the Taliban overthrew the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in 2021 and closed the Embassy of Afghanistan, Washington, D.C. in 2022.^[11] Since the Taliban coup, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's embassy in Ottawa is manned by diplomats representing the former government, with Hassan Soroosh serving as ambassador.

Embassy of Canada, Kabul

The Embassy of Canada is the Commonwealth Confederation of Canada's embassy in Kabul. It is located at House No. 256، Street No. 15, Kabul 1001 in Kabul, Afghanistan .

Afghan Ambassador to Canada

List of Afghan Representatives in Ottawa since 2002:

M. Sharif Ghalib April 2002 – Minister Counsellor, Chargé d'Affaires
Abdul Jalil Jamily October 2002 – November 2003
M. Sharif Ghalib November 2003 – September 2004 – Minister Counsellor, Chargé d'Affaires
Omar Samad September 2004 – June 2009
Jawed Ludin June 2009 – February 2011
Ershad Ahmadi February 2011 – March 2012 – Minister Counsellor, Chargé d'Affaires
Barna Karimi March 2012 – 2013
Shaam Lal Patija 2013–2014
none appointed 2014–2016
Shinkai Karokhel 2016–2018
none appointed 2018–2023
Hassan Soroosh – as of April 2023^[update]^[2]