OTTAWA, Aug 14, 2021 (BSS/AFP) - Canada said Friday it will take in up to
20,000 Afghan refugees, including women leaders, government workers and
others facing threats from the Taliban, as insurgents advanced across the
country seizing major cities.

  "The situation in Afghanistan is heartbreaking and Canada will not stand
idly by," Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino told a news conference.

  The refugees will include "particularly vulnerable" Afghans still in the
country or who've already fled to neighboring states, which in addition to
female leaders and government employees also comprises human rights
defenders, persecuted minorities and journalists.

  Several plane-loads of asylum seekers have already departed with the first
one landing Friday in Toronto, Mendicino said.

  As the Taliban advances on the capital Kabul, officials said Canadian
special forces form part of a contingency plans to airlift Canadian embassy
staff, but details were not provided due to the sensitive nature of the
security operation.

  Earlier Friday, many countries including Spain, Denmark, Norway and the
Netherlands announced the withdrawal of staff from their respective
embassies.

  Canada has said it is monitoring the situation in Afghanistan "very
closely" and working with its allies on the ground.

  "Protecting the Canadian Embassy and our staff is our top priority," said
Foreign Minister Marc Garneau.

  On Twitter, he said that Canada "owes Afghans a debt of gratitude and we
will continue our efforts to bring them to safety."