LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

IN LIMBO

Re Afghans Stuck In Pakistan Fear Canada Has Abandoned Them (Nov. 25): Personally I am most concerned with the fate of a former employee of the Canadian embassy in Kabul. He was the first local staff member we hired. He met the criterion of being directly engaged and paid by the government of Canada. As our political analyst, he provided sensitive and confidential information to the ambassador, our defence attaches, visiting MPs and senators.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada views his requests for asylum over the past 1.5 years only as an “expression of interest.” Its website says he must wait to receive an “invitation to apply.” Only then may his case be considered and he be given a positive or negative reply.

He and his family remain trapped and certainly abandoned by Canada in Kabul. He has been threatened several times by the Taliban.

He is one of many whose requests for asylum remain in limbo.

Eileen Olexiuk

Former deputy head of mission, Canadian embassy, Kabul; Ottawa