Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

"Going forward the strategic interests of Canada and our allies in Afghanistan have diminished."

"As a result, a reduced programming footprint ... is proposed, focused on education health and gender equality in addition to humanitarian assistance."

Canada's foreign affairs briefing note to Ahmed Hussen, minister for international development 

Newly recruited personnel joining the Taliban security forces demonstrate their skills during their graduation ceremony in the western city of Herat

 

Internal Canadian government documents give some insight to Canada's ongoing financial support to Afghanistan in humanitarian aid, meant to be delivered to suffering Afghans living a life of privation under Taliban rule, in the hopes that none of that financial aid goes to the government itself. The "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" under Taliban administration, has no diplomatic recognition from any nation. It has no international legitimacy. And its toxic rule has been a life-stopper for Afghan girls and women.

Global Affairs Canada issued a briefing note that while recognizing Canada's diminished focus on the country at a time when new crises are erupting elsewhere in the world, that ongoing funding in areas such as health, education and women's rights be maintained; given the odium in which the fundamentalist Islamist regime is held, there is no popularity among Canadian taxpayers to expend charitable funding to a country that its extremist rulers would be swift to appropriate.

"This could generate negative media interest", the document warns, should it be publicized, recommending a "reactive" communications strategy. Since the Taliban took over in 2021 and foreign missions were withdrawn along with a coalition led by the United States of military forces, the Taliban expelled international humanitarian groups leading to an exacerbated condition of non-foreign-interference in the affairs of the country bringing issues of education, health, food scarcity to a head.

 

Taliban security personnel holding rocket-propelled grenade ride motorbikes as they celebrate the third anniversary of Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in Khost on August 14, 2024. Photo by AFP via Getty Images/File

Most countries strive to avoid direct government-to-government contact with the Taliban that risks legitimizing a regime known for its human rights abuses. Afghanistan is a country whose people face severe humanitarian pressures; the United Nations estimating that over 12 million Afghans suffer "acute food insecurity". Canada's government while refusing to recognize the Taliban as a legitimate government, has provided $367 million in assistance in the past three years. 

 

"Canada has continued to provide development assistance to the people of Afghanistan", a Global Affairs spokesman affirmed to an investigating journalist. Over the years of Canada's active involvement in Afghanistan the total that the government of Canada provided was over $4 billion in aid. Under the Taliban, girls are barred from attending school past Grade 6. Women cannot participate in most areas of the economy, and harsh rules have been imposed on their dress and their participation in social life.

"A country like Canada can't do everything everywhere all the time. But if there's ever a place where values, historical obligation and interests kind of align, it's Afghanistan."

"There is no place in recent history where not just Canadian Forces but also civilians and diplomats were as present for as long as they were in Afghanistan."

Martin Fischer, spokesman, World Vision Canada

There is nothing quite like the passion of humanitarian groups urging governments to fund their missions abroad. It is their reason for existence. For employing locally engaged people. For priding themselves on supporting those for whom few options remain other than to dream of a future without coercion, insecurity and starvation. That, in the process of delivering their humanitarian aid they relieve dictators of their own responsibility to provide for their populations is irrelevant; as is the fact that indirectly they are supporting those dictatorships.

Since Canada closed its embassy, cutting off direct assistance to the Afghan government since the Taliban takeover it has continued to provide critical support "without compromising our values", Global Affairs insists. Pointing out that 40,000 Afghans were brought to Canada, ostensibly saving them from Taliban threats, but leaving the question of adequate security measures being in place through the process. That an incident of recent street protests where extremists gathered to condemn Israel for its war in Gaza following the terrorist assault on Israel, flags of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Taliban have been seen. 'Death to Canada' has been heard, along with 'Death to Israel'.

The government of Canada insists that much of its funding aid has been directed to the Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund, a World Bank project; funding that the briefing note recommended be reduced. Funding directed elsewhere in aid to Afghanistan is meant to focus on health, education, female rights and empowerment and humanitarian aid, the Global Affairs briefing note adds.

A Taliban fighter stands guard as women wait to receive food rations distributed by a humanitarian aid group in Kabul last month.

"Should the reduction in the department's international assistance to Afghanistan be publicized, this could generate negative media interest."

"[However], the proposed approach is not expected to garner media and/or public attention."

"The department recommends a reactive communications approach."