Germans in Afghanistan: evacuation of embassy staff begins

The evacuation of the Germans and Afghan local staff still living there is under great time pressure in Kabul. According to the Federal Government, it is a dangerous operation.

The federal government will immediately begin evacuating the staff of the German embassy in the Afghan capital Kabul. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas announced in Berlin that the first relatives would be “flown out during the day.” In addition, Bundeswehr transport planes are supposed to leave during the night “to support the necessary evacuation work and to carry it out in the coming days”.

“The Taliban’s takeover of power is imminent,” said Maas. In this situation, the security of German nationals and Afghan employees must have “top priority” in recent years.

Transport planes take off in Lower Saxony

Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer emphasized: “Our goal is to get as many people as possible out of Afghanistan – as long as the local possibilities allow.” The first A400M transport aircraft would take off from the Wunstorf air base in Lower Saxony on early Monday morning. A hub will be set up in a neutral third country outside Afghanistan, and an airlift to Kabul will be set up from there. She and Maas announced that those who were flown out would then be brought to Germany from this third country by civil aircraft.

According to Maas, an “operational core team” from the embassy in Kabul will remain at the militarily secured part of the airport in order to keep the embassy in working order and to accompany the further evacuation measures. The embassy staff had already been brought to the airport during the day. “The colleagues are there now and they are safe there,” said Maas. The crisis team had contact at a meeting in the afternoon.

Close exchange with other countries

“We are now doing everything we can to enable our nationals and our former local staff to leave the country in the coming days,” said Maas. “The circumstances under which this can take place are difficult to predict at the moment.” That is why the federal government is in close contact with the USA and other international partners. “We have agreed that we will support one another with the evacuation measures in the coming days.”

According to the Defense Minister, the Bundeswehr will primarily deploy paratroopers from the Rapid Forces Division (DSK). “We are prepared for all scenarios.” It is a very difficult situation for the local people – “but also for the soldiers”. Kramp-Karrenbauer emphasized: “It is a dangerous mission that we are now sending you to.”

Afghan local staff who used to work for the armed forces or federal ministries or who are still working are to be brought to Germany. They are now considered particularly at risk. Kramp-Karrenbauer did not say how many machines will leave for Kabul. The military machines can transport 114 people.

Bundestag votes only later

According to earlier information, the federal government wants to have the operation approved by a mandate from the German Bundestag. This can only be done at a later point in time because of the haste required. This option is expressly provided for in the Parliamentary Participation Act. It says: “Operations in imminent danger that cannot be delayed do not require the prior consent of the Bundestag.” But this is “to be made up immediately”.

In the cabinet meeting this Wednesday, the mandate for the operation is to be decided. Chancellor Angela Merkel informed the chairmen of the parliamentary groups by telephone about this in the evening, as the news agency dpa learned from participants. In the following week, the Bundestag should discuss and decide on this. On August 25, the Bundestag will hold a special session anyway to decide on aid for the flood areas. Then the evacuation operation should also come on the agenda.

Other EU countries also fly out nationals

Several other European countries are also flying out their employees. Members of the Italian embassy are to be flown to Rome in the next few hours. However, there can be no talk of closing the embassy yet. The Netherlands and France moved their embassy in Kabul near the international airport. The company should be kept upright as long as possible, it said.