A sort ofIn view of the rapid advancement of the Afghan Taliban in the capital Kabul, Prime Minister Angela Merkel (CDU) discussed next steps in a crisis meeting with some cabinet members. A government spokesperson said on request on Saturday: “With the help of the German Bundeswehr, we discussed how to ensure that employees of the German embassy and German organizations working in Afghanistan and local Afghan staff return as quickly as possible.” The German Bundestag will participate in such a decision,” he said affirmatively.
According to sources, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Olaf Schultz, Minister of Foreign Affairs Heiko Mas (Social Democrats), Minister of Defense Anne Grete Kramp-Karenbauer (CDU), Minister of Interior Huo St. Sikhov (CDU) and Chancellor Helge Braun (CDU) held consultations. And representatives of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Cooperation. This was done on the conference call. The spokesperson said that voting is currently being held on the specific procedures.
Less than 50 kilometers from Kabul
The Bundeswehr has already begun preparations for a strict protection mission to evacuate German citizens and local staff from Afghanistan. According to information from the German News Agency, the Bundestag is preparing an authorization for this purpose. In the next week, the Bundeswehr is ready to perform such missions as part of national risk and crisis preparedness. The paratroopers of the Rapid Force Division (DSK) will be deployed next week.
At the same time, the radical Islamic Taliban are continuing their march into Afghanistan. Hamida Akbari, a member of the German News Agency, said that on Saturday morning, fighting broke out in Maidan Shaar, the capital of Maidan Wardak Province, about 35 kilometers from Kabul. The Taliban have ruled most of the province. According to the broadcaster Tolo News, Islamists are said to have even infiltrated the Char Asiab district, 11 kilometers south of the capital.
The Taliban already control more than half of the 34 provincial capitals. On Thursday and Friday, the country’s third and second largest cities, Herat and Kandahar, fell into the hands of Islamists. With Prianan in Logar Province, the Taliban have occupied another provincial capital about 70 kilometers south of Kabul.
Canada wants to receive 20,000 Afghans
At the same time, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced the “remobilization” of the armed forces. He said in a televised speech on Saturday that this is a “top priority.” In addition, the President promised that he would also conduct “consultations” with political leaders and international partners on a political solution to ensure “peace and stability” in the country. Ghani does not accept the Taliban’s request to resign as a prerequisite for negotiating a ceasefire and a political settlement.
At the same time, Western countries stepped up their efforts to keep their own personnel and local Afghan workers away from the fast-growing Taliban. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the British Embassy staff should leave Kabul within a few days. London plans to send about 600 soldiers to ensure that the British are repatriated.Canada plans to accept more than 20,000 vulnerable Afghans to protect them from Taliban attacks
France said in Paris on Friday evening that, as one of the only three countries, France continues to issue visas in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. An “extraordinary effort” is being made to promote the entry of Afghan artists, journalists and human rights activists into France. Between May and July, 625 local Afghan workers employed by French organizations and authorities were taken in with their families in France.
