The Bundeswehr has brought more than 5,000 people out of Afghanistan. More than 10,000 are still on the Federal Foreign Office’s exit list. The government’s rescue efforts are now entering a new phase.
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has warned against an expansion of the crisis in Afghanistan across borders. At the same time, he promised the neighboring countries economic and humanitarian aid. “It is in our own interest to prevent the collapse in Afghanistan from destabilizing the entire region,” Maas said on Sunday at the start of a four-day trip to the region. The SPD politician also spoke out in favor of an internationally coordinated appearance against the militant Islamist Taliban, who have been in power in Afghanistan for two weeks.
Maas visits five countries, all of which play a role in further efforts to get people in need of protection out of Afghanistan. “I’m traveling to the region today to make it clear: Germany’s commitment does not end with the completion of the military evacuation mission,” Maas emphasized.
He first set out for Turkey, which is of great importance for the continued operation of the airport in Kabul and the reception of refugees. He then visits Afghanistan’s three neighboring countries, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan, before finally going to Qatar. The small but influential Arab Gulf emirate actively participated in the evacuations. The political office of the militant Islamist Taliban is also located in the capital, Doha.
Maas starts just three days after the Bundeswehr evacuation operation ended. The Air Force has flown 5,347 people from at least 45 countries out of Kabul under extremely dangerous conditions. There was support for this mainly from Uzbekistan, where the Bundeswehr set up a hub. He would like to thank them for this and work to ensure that “international cooperation is continued even in the critical phase that is now beginning,” said Maas.
More than 10,000 people on the exit lists
There are still more than 10,000 people in Afghanistan on the Federal Foreign Office’s exit lists, including 300 Germans. “The military evacuation is now over. But our work will continue until everyone for whom we are responsible in Afghanistan is safe,” Maas promised on Thursday.
The SPD politician came under massive pressure because of the misjudgments before the Taliban came to power and was faced with demands for resignation. His own political future after the federal elections is likely to depend on the success of further efforts to get people in need of protection out of Afghanistan. The Federal Government wants to support people seeking protection from leaving the country by land to neighboring countries, but also by air via Kabul Airport.
Turkey has an important role to play
For the latter point, the talks with the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu in the seaside resort of Antalya on Sunday were of particular importance. The Turkish government is negotiating with the Taliban over the operation of Kabul airport after the withdrawal of the US forces on August 31. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently said that the Taliban had made a proposal, but had not yet made a decision. The airport was already secured by the Turkish armed forces during the NATO mission, and they also participated in the service for flight operations.
Turkey is likely to play an important role again on the refugee issue. In addition to around 3.6 million refugee Syrians, hundreds of thousands of Afghans and migrants from other countries are already living in the country. Ankara also has financial support from the EU to supply the Syrians.
Erdogan has recently made it clear several times that he is not prepared to continue taking in refugees. Turkey was not Europe’s refugee camp, he said about last week. To prevent further migration, Turkey is isolating itself and is currently building a wall on the border with Iran. Migrants from Afghanistan repeatedly come into the country illegally via the neighboring country.
Nothing works without the Taliban
The refugee issue will also be discussed in the neighboring countries of Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan. These countries are among the first port of call for those seeking protection who want to get to safety by land. Thousands of hotel beds for Afghan local staff from international troops have already been blocked in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. The city government instructed the hotels to book all available rooms for people to be evacuated from Afghanistan over the next three weeks.
But it is also clear: From September 1st, all efforts to ensure safe exit from Afghanistan will be dependent on the Taliban – whether it is about safe conduct at the checkpoints by land or the resumption of flight operations in Kabul and maybe also in other cities in the country. “The Taliban are now a reality in Afghanistan,” said Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) in her government statement on Wednesday. “This new reality is bitter, but we have to deal with it.”
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