Sajjan’s Office Refuses to Disclose Privacy Details on Potential Interventions for Afghan Groups
The federal Liberals are keeping quiet about whether former defense minister Harjit Sajjan stepped in on behalf of any other groups attempting to escape Afghanistan after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in 2021.
Mr. Sajjan has stated that he utilized appropriate channels to pass on information to the Canadian Armed Forces regarding the location of a group of over 200 Afghan Sikhs who were trapped.
A spokesperson for Mr. Sajjan, now serving as the emergency preparedness minister, mentions that safeguarding the privacy and security of vulnerable groups is standard practice.
Due to this, specific details about evacuation efforts, including Mr. Sajjan’s involvement, cannot be disclosed.
However, Mr. Sajjan’s office confirms that during Canada’s evacuation operations, the minister, his team, and department officials received numerous pleas for assistance.
Mr. Sajjan insists that he relayed information about the Sikh group that was unable to establish direct contact with the military, emphasizing that he never directed the forces to prioritize their rescue over others.
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In addition to assisting the evacuation of Canadians and Afghan allies, western nations endeavored to aid other groups deemed at risk of persecution by the Taliban, such as women leaders, human rights activists, journalists, and religious minorities.
General Wayne Eyre, the defense chief, clarified in a recent interview that the military was executing “legal orders” while attempting to rescue the group of Afghan Sikhs, as they were among the approved groups for government assistance.
A parliamentary committee investigating Canada’s evacuation operations concluded that bureaucratic obstacles and the premature closure of the Canadian embassy in Kabul hindered the evacuation process, leaving those seeking to leave Afghanistan with limited support.
