DOver the weekend, the German Bundeswehr flew hundreds of people out of Kabul. Paratroopers and other troops at military airfields had to deal with the chaos at the entrance and the extremely short stay time of the machines. According to Brigadier General Jens Alter, the local Bundeswehr commander, the entrances to the north and east have been closed. This resulted in “great excitement and dramatic scenes.” At the same time, the wider “South Gate” is open, so it is sometimes the “only climax point” for a large number of people.
In this difficult situation, an A400M of the Luftwaffe took off on Saturday, carrying more than 172 people, and then one carrying 205 warrants. Later, a plane could only take eight people. On Sunday, only 20 people boarded one of the planes, and 196 people were on the flight to Tashkent, Uzbekistan at 11:19 am on Sunday, German time.
Aid supplies and replacement workers are also airlifted in
The Combat Command called the situation at the airport on Sunday afternoon “very difficult.” Every effort will be made to let as many people fly out as possible. As of noon on Sunday, a total of 2,134 boys and girls have been transported out. After returning to the machine, food and relief supplies will be provided to those who are waiting, and replacement troops will be provided for deployed soldiers and diplomats who have worked in difficult conditions in Kabul for a week.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to rescue Western citizens, especially Afghans. Relaxing at the entrance of a military branch controlled mainly by the Americans and British may be actively obstructed by secret Taliban forces. According to reports, hundreds of younger and stronger men squeeze into the front wall, and women, children and the elderly are almost inaccessible.
According to reports, there were violent incidents among the crowd, some people were trampled on, and there were also deaths. There are five to seven thousand people waiting at the airport, most of them Americans who want to fly out. According to the British government on Sunday, seven Afghan civilians were killed in the crowd.
Due to tremendous pressure, the gates of the area were fortified on a large scale, and American soldiers, especially British and German soldiers, maintained security there, including laying containers horizontally to prevent breakthroughs. There are also increasing reports of repulsive acts of violence by protectors, some of whom are Afghan aid workers. Even with German exit documents, entering there obviously becomes extremely difficult.
Ramstein Air Base as a hub
If the federal government allows Washington to use the U.S. Air Force base in Ramstein as a transit point and transit point for thousands of Afghans and their citizens, German-American cooperation may improve. According to the Pentagon, since the mission began last Saturday, the U.S. armed forces have taken 17,000 people to safety by airlift.
CNN reported on Saturday, citing unnamed U.S. defense sources, that the terrorist militia “Islamic State” (IS) threatened to launch an attack on Kabul. airport And its surroundings. Therefore, the U.S. military is trying to show Americans, other foreigners, and Afghan employees of the U.S. government an “alternative route” to the airport. The Taliban and the U.S. representatives agree on this point; they and the branches of IS that are active in the region are deep enemies.
The Bundeswehr is currently trying to organize short trips for about 200 paratroopers, commandos, paramedics and others. There are now two special forces helicopters ready to take action in Kabul and can pick up those who seek protection from further afield. . Although men and women from 13 NATO countries tried to get their compatriots and Afghans out of the country in the military section of the airport, only the Americans and British have helicopters on the scene.
It is estimated that as many as 60,000 people will be evacuated from NATO countries. Whether, when and how German special forces conduct rescue operations in the city must be kept secret. According to reports, Americans have about 6,000 soldiers at the airport and airfield, and the current German task force has about 200 men and women.
On Saturday, the German and American embassies in Kabul advised their citizens not to try to reach the airport. The German Embassy wrote in a letter to its compatriots: “At present, it is usually safer to stay at home or sheltered from the wind.” Due to possible security threats, the US Embassy urged Americans to avoid airports.
Secretary of defense Annie Great Cramp-Karenbauer (CDU) assures that the Bundeswehr will continue to evacuate under high pressure. “The situation is difficult, but we will continue to use the possibilities and everything that appears on the scene to evacuate as much as possible,” she said in Berlin. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in Washington: “We know we are fighting with time and space. This is our game now.”
The time window for further evacuation from Kabul is getting smaller. The United States actually hopes to complete its withdrawal by August 31. Does not include continuing evacuation operations without them.
