For the time being, the US is sticking to its goal of withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan by August 31. The White House said on Tuesday after the heads of state and government of the leading western industrial nations (G 7) went on video. President Joe Biden had told his colleagues that, based on the current progress, the US operation could be ended on schedule by August 31, it said. He also asked the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for alternative plans in order to be able to change the time of the withdrawal if necessary. Previously, the UK in particular, which currently holds the G-7 presidency, asked the US to continue the rescue mission for people at risk beyond August 31.
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) said it was clear that the evacuations could not continue without the protection of the Americans. “We mustn’t expose our soldiers to undue risk.” The question now is: “How can we ensure that, if possible, local workers and those in need of protection can leave the country afterwards?” That is why there is now “very intensive discussions” as to whether civil air traffic can be made possible again at Kabul airport.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on the Taliban to grant safe conduct to those wishing to leave Afghanistan even after the withdrawal of Western troops from Afghanistan. After the video switch, Johnson did not comment on the extension of the rescue mission that he called for.
Thousands of people are currently being flown out of the Afghan capital, Kabul, every day. The airport is the only part of the country that is still under the control of the Western Military Alliance. But the time to get people to safety is running out. All foreign troops are said to have left the country by the end of the month. The Taliban announced that they would not accept an extension of the mission. Critics warn that not all people who seek protection from the Islamists will be able to be flown out by the end of the month.
Federal Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU) said that one should take the refusal of the Taliban “very, very seriously”. It is difficult for them to assess what would happen if the US continued the rescue flights anyway. The experts now have to carefully weigh up whether the Taliban only wanted to drive up the price in the negotiations with the West or whether it could come “really tough”. the Washington Post reported that CIA chief William Burns met Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar for a meeting in Kabul on Monday.
A continuation of the rescue flights without US support is unthinkable
The White House announced Tuesday that the Western Military Alliance had evacuated around 58,700 people with US help since mid-August. The French government said it would end the airlift on Thursday if the US withdraws on August 31, as announced. Security sources said that the other European allies should follow suit towards the end of this week.
The security situation in Afghanistan is of great concern to the Western military alliance. British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said that the risk of deployment would increase. Terror groups like the Islamic State are out to chase the West out of Afghanistan.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that future development aid must be linked to strict conditions, such as respect for human rights. The Commission has frozen a billion euros that should flow over the coming years; the money will only be released if the Taliban have given “solid guarantees and credible deeds”. All states that took part in the missions now have to take in refugees, and global cooperation is necessary.