Afghanistan

The crisis in Afghanistan — alongside the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic — has thrown up an alarming backdrop to the federal election, which could overshadow campaign efforts by Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau as his government's record comes under scrutiny.

The Liberal and NDP leaders are expected to be in Ontario for Day 13 of the federal election campaign, while the head of the Conservatives is to spend time in two Atlantic provinces.

Canada's military mission in Afghanistan ended Thursday, hours before suicide bombers attacked crowds at Kabul airport, killing several American marines, and leaving an unknown number of Canadians and their families trapped.

The Canadian military will begin wrapping up its mission at Kabul airport in the coming days ahead of the Aug. 31 deadline the United States set for full withdrawal, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said Wednesday.

Canada is one of a dozen allied countries taking part in the evacuation of people facing Taliban reprisals from Kabul's chaotic airport, which American-led forces have secured for the time being.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will convene a meeting of leaders from the Group of Seven nations on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, for "urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan."

Liberals face questions about overspending and Afghanistan on the campaign trail

Canada airlifted another 121 people from strife-ridden Afghanistan on Saturday, August 21, 2021, including Canadian citizens and family members as well as Afghan nationals accepted for resettlement by Ottawa and its allies, officials said on Sunday, August 22, 2021.

Ongoing complaints about roadblocks in Kabul and bureaucratic hurdles in Ottawa tempered any sense of relief on Thursday, August 19, 2021, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed on the campaign trail that the Canadian military has arrived back in Afghanistan to help with evacuation efforts.

Canadians observing the Taliban's swift takeover of Afghanistan say they're skeptical of the group's claims that women's rights will be respected under Islamic law.

Justin Trudeau blamed Taliban checkpoints rather than bureaucratic red tape and delays on Wednesday as his government continued to face questions about the pace of Canada’s effort to evacuate hundreds of Afghans from their country.

The senior military officer who oversaw Canada’s vaccine rollout campaign is poised to be charged with one count of sexual assault, though one of his lawyers is raising questions about the timing of that decision in relation to the federal election.

All Canadian diplomats have left Afghanistan, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said Tuesday, raising fresh questions and concerns about the government’s promise to help hundreds of former interpreters and their families still stuck in the country.

Canadians working to evacuate allies from Afghanistan described chaos, fear and disappointment on Sunday, August 15, 2021, as Canada shut down its embassy in Kabul and suspended diplomatic relations amid a Taliban advance in the capital.

The Trudeau government is promising to resettle 20,000 refugees who have already fled Afghanistan even as months of frustration turn to outright fear over the fate of hundreds of former interpreters and their families still stuck in the country.