Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence A law banning all dealings with the Taliban, which charities complain hampers their ability to help needy Afghans, could be tweaked by the federal government to give aid agencies more flexibility. International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan said the government was considering making changes to the law to create “flexibility” to facilitate humanitarian aid. But in an interview with The Canadian Press, he insisted that Canada would not de-designate the Taliban as a designated terrorist organization. “We’re looking at options for what we can do to create that flexibility that other countries have,” he said. “The US can currently do more work than us, at least they have the options to do more things there. We are looking at similar exemptions that we can create as long as we can keep up the pressure on the Taliban because they are a terrorist entity.” A law listing the Taliban as a terrorist organization was passed in 2013, before allies withdrew and the Taliban seized control of Kabul and formed a de facto government last year. Under anti-terrorism legislation, Canadians could face up to 10 years in prison if they directly or indirectly provide assets or finances to the Taliban. Canadian aid agencies working in Afghanistan complain that the law hinders their work because they cannot help anyone who may have official ties to the Afghan government, including people who pay rent or taxes. They also criticized Canada for not adapting its regulations following a December 2021 UN Security Council resolution that said “humanitarian assistance and other activities supporting basic human needs in Afghanistan” would not violate its sanctions regime. Council. Giving evidence to a special parliamentary committee on Afghanistan earlier this year, Michael Messenger, president of World Vision Canada, said Canada was “out of step” with other countries, including the U.S., that have made changes to facilitate humanitarian access. aid after the UN. analysis. Ten humanitarian organizations have petitioned the parliamentary committee calling on ministers to relax its laws so they can work on the ground in Afghanistan without fear of running afoul of Canada’s anti-terrorism laws. In its official report last month, the commission recommended the government “ensure that registered Canadian organizations have the clarity and assurances needed — such as cuts or exemptions — to provide humanitarian assistance and meet basic needs in Afghanistan without fear of prosecution for violating Canada’s anti-terrorism laws.” Sajjan said despite bans on doing business with the Taliban, Canada has continued to provide huge amounts of aid to Afghanistan through agencies such as the UN and the Red Cross. But he acknowledged that the law, introduced before the Taliban formed a government, prevented some aid work, including “development projects where you have to work through the structure of the government”. He said Canada has poured about $150 million into Afghanistan, including aid to help people after the recent earthquake that killed more than 1,000 people and left more than 1,500 injured. The earthquake struck a remote area near the border with Pakistan, damaging more than 10,000 houses, most of which are made of clay and mud. Immediately after the earthquake, the Taliban appealed for help from the international community. “The law did not stop us from helping the Afghan people,” the International Development Minister said. “We can still help the Afghan people, but we are still looking at options on how to get the exemptions.” Lauryn Oates, executive director of Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan, said aid groups are getting conflicting legal advice about what the rules say they can and cannot do in Afghanistan. He said the anti-terrorism law stopped Canadian humanitarians from paying local taxes, including rent or wages. However, aid workers could face imprisonment in Afghanistan if they fail to pay taxes, according to local laws. The law also makes it difficult to fund scholarships for Afghan women and girls at private universities and creates a huge amount of red tape, he said. A scholarship can now only be awarded if the university signs undertakings that the money, even small amounts, will not be used to pay tax. Oates said she feared a law change could take years when aid is urgently needed in the impoverished country. “We need an innovative, interim solution now,” he said. “Other countries have been able to pull it off and Canada is falling behind.”
