As the need for greater coordination of efforts by development agencies working there grew, the Government of Canada decided to establish full diplomatic relations with Afghanistan in 1968.

[5] In 1971, Canadian aid to Afghanistan included 257,000 bushels of wheat, after drought had reduced production of cereal crops in the Central Asian country.

Even after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, the two countries did not re-establish full diplomatic relations, and contact was minimal despite humanitarian aid efforts by Canada in the 1990s.

The Minister of National Defence Art Eggleton authorized more than 100 Canadian Forces (CF) members serving on military exchange programs in the United States and other countries to participate in the War in Afghanistan.

On October 7, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced that Canada had launched Operation Apollo, contributing expanded CF personnel and equipment to the international force being formed to conduct a campaign against terrorism.

Ambassador Jawed Ludin[10] completed his assignment in Ottawa in December 2010 and the position was filled by Barna Karimi in March 2012.

[11] Since the Taliban takeover, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's embassy in Ottawa is manned by diplomats representing the former government, with Hassan Soroosh serving as ambassador.