Canadian military preparing to evacuate Canadians from Afghanistan: sources

Canada’s military is preparing to pull Canadians out of its embassy in Afghanistan, Global News has learned.

Global News has learned a number of Afghans who worked for Canada and their families are currently inside a Canadian compound hoping to be rescued along with Canadian citizens.

Sources say there are young Afghan children among those taking shelter.

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The Canadian government has not yet made a decision on their fate, but multiple sources told Global News they fear the families will be executed by the Taliban.

Sources tell Global News that the embassy is now in the process of “ripping out,” an evacuation process that includes disposing classified items and evacuating staff.

Canadian special operations forces will be deployed to begin evacuating Canadians at its embassy in Kabul, according to the sources.

They have told Global News that Canadian Special Operations units helping to evacuate the embassy includes the Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) and Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2), the latter of which specializes as an elite counter-terrorist and hostage rescue unit.

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The move to evacuate also comes as several cities have begun falling to the Taliban just weeks before the U.S. is set to completely withdraw from the country.

The government has previously committed to pulling out Afghan interpreters amid fears of retaliation from the Taliban, though the process has been mired by roadblocks such as visa issues.