“Phase 1” of the Bundeswehr evacuation mission in Afghanistan is almost over. But still thousands of people crowd at the airport in Kabul, tragedies are unfolding. The hope: future rescues could take place – but only with the consent of the Taliban.
The last hours of the Bundeswehr’s military evacuation mission from Kabul are proving to be the most dangerous. An alarming note chases the next on Thursday. The British fear that there could be a terrorist attack within hours. The German military has received warnings that a suicide bomber could slip through security checks and possibly get on board the A400M transport aircraft – for example with explosives in the soles of his shoes – in order to “move” there, i.e. to detonate the explosives.
Taliban fighters are said to have already intercepted and killed several terrorist militia terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) at their checkpoints near the airport, according to military circles. Several states are calling on their citizens to stay away from the airport. Turkey, Poland, the Netherlands – one by one, allies are announcing the end of their evacuations or referring to requests from the US to set the timetable.
People waiting in front of the airport gates “as close together as bricks in a wall”
Regardless of terror threats, the number of people waiting in front of the gates has risen again, as an eyewitness to the German Press Agency reported. The people are “as close to one another as bricks in a wall”. It is about 200 meters from the entrance and it would cost the life of his child or his wife if he tried to overcome this 200 meters. In a transmitted video you can see people waving with documents in their hands. They shout “Help me!” – help me – and stand shoulder to shoulder in the blazing sun. There are women and children in the crowd, and babies can be heard crying.
The military feared a mass rush and therefore did not publicly say on Thursday when the last flight was due. It’s about the safety of the 250 or so soldiers in Kabul, but also about the integrity – if you can put it that way – of the Afghans. First the last people in need of protection present, the military itself speaks of “echoes”, are flown out, then paratroopers, paramedics and military policemen (“Feldjäger”). Special forces remain the last to remain capable of acting. Anyone who is on lists and can now make it should get a seat on a US airplane.
“Meanwhile one or two people collapse on almost every flight”
As the last line of defense around the German evacuation machines, air force soldiers will be ready on Thursday as they have been since the start of Operation. You belong to the “Air Mobile Protection Teams” (AMPT) of the object protection regiment “Friesland”, led by Colonel Marc Vogt.
“These men are all trained in such a way that they can react immediately to an escalation of the situation. From arresting possible perpetrators to holding them down and out immediately to” we stay on site and just send the aircraft out, “says Vogt. “I am very proud of my men and the performance of the entire association. We prepared and channeled them within a few hours and they do more on site than one could ask of them.”
There are usually five men on board. “The men tell me that people are getting more exhausted every day. Meanwhile, one or two people collapse on almost every flight. When the pressure drops and the cooling comes on, the body switches to standby. The men are on the return flight consistently employed as a lifesaver and protector, “says Vogt. The soldiers are “psychologically touched and burdened”, but also proud. “It is a very fulfilling task to save people in shape and to see their fear fall away,” said the officer.
Of central importance for future evacuations is the continued operation of the partially looted airport after the end of the military operation, which many initially consider unlikely. “The train is obviously in order. From my point of view, I’ll just say what you need at least: I need a check-in area, air traffic control and I need a fire brigade,” says Vogt. “I don’t know which of these aren’t working and how quickly they can be restored.”
Further evacuation missions only with the permission of the Taliban
Now “phase two” begins, because the end of the Bundeswehr mission does not mean the end of the evacuation operation. The German government will continue to try to get as many people out of Afghanistan as possible, but in future without military support – and only with the consent of the Taliban, without whom nothing works.
The negotiations that the German delegate Markus Potzel has been conducting for days with the political arm of the Islamists in the Gulf state of Qatar are now of central importance. The main objective is the continued civilian operation of the heavily damaged airport. But it is also about safe conduct by land to neighboring countries, especially to Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
The first result has been there since Wednesday. According to Potzel, the Taliban promised to allow Afghans with valid identification papers to leave the country after August 31. We don’t know how reliable that is.
More than 200 Germans are said to be still in Afghanistan
What is certain, however, is that the Taliban also have an interest in getting along reasonably well with Germany. Because the German bargaining chips are hundreds of million euros in aid that has been on hold since the Islamists came to power. In the negotiations, Potzel already indicated that development aid could flow again under certain conditions.
It is about many thousands of people who are still seeking protection from the Taliban even after the end of the military mission. Even one and a half weeks after the start of the evacuation, there are still late registrations on the lists of the Foreign Office: Above all, Afghans who are particularly at risk, but more than 200 Germans are said to be still in the country.
In addition to the goodwill of the Taliban, the continuation of the evacuation operation depends very much on the further development of the security situation. There is hope that the massive threat of terrorism will decrease after the US troops have withdrawn. But that is not certain.
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