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Conflicts: Faeser on Afghanistan: Do not leave local forces behind

Conflicts: Faeser on Afghanistan: Do not leave local forces behind

Several thousand local staff for German authorities are still stuck in Afghanistan. Interior Minister Faeser is now announcing a new program for admission to Germany.

A year after the return of the militant Islamist Taliban to power in Afghanistan, the federal government promises that all local staff who once worked for German agencies can still leave the country. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) assured in the “Bild am Sonntag”: “We will not leave them behind.” She is currently working with Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) on a new admissions program with “clear criteria”. Overall, according to earlier information from the federal government, there are several thousand people.

Faeser put the total number of Afghans admitted to date who previously worked as local staff for German authorities or organizations and their family members at 15,759. According to the previously distributed version of the interview, she did not give an exact number of how many more are expected. According to figures from last week, since the withdrawal of NATO troops, Germany has promised to take in a total of 23,614 local workers and their families. So more than 7800 people are affected.

Faeser wants to put repatriations on hold

The minister also assured that there would be no so-called repatriations to Afghanistan in the foreseeable future. “The deportations to Afghanistan are currently on hold – and given the current situation there, it will certainly have to stay that way.” The local staff used to work, for example, as civilian helpers for the German armed forces or as interpreters. The return of the Taliban in August 2021 caused great concern for their lives.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s ex-president Ashraf Ghani warned of a wave of refugees from his homeland. “Millions will try to flee Afghanistan,” said the former head of state to “Bild am Sonntag”. Of these, most people would aim for Germany. “Whether they make it to Germany also depends on the smugglers,” said Ghani, who now lives in exile in Abu Dhabi. “They’re part of a criminal network. So it’s a question of affordability.”

The 73-year-old was president when the German armed forces and other foreign troops withdrew from Afghanistan after almost two decades. A year ago – on August 15, 2021 – the Taliban recaptured the capital Kabul.

Source: Stern

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