Saturday, November 6th, 2021
Ambassador travels to Kabul
Federal government wants to approach the Taliban
How do you deal with extremists who are suddenly in power? The German government apparently wants to explore diplomatic possibilities with the Taliban and is sending an ambassador to Afghanistan. It could also make it easier for the local staff remaining in the country to leave the country for Germany.
According to a newspaper report, the German government is planning steps to change the way it deals with the Taliban government in Afghanistan. The German ambassador Markus Potzel should travel to the country in the next few weeks, reported the “Welt am Sonntag”, citing government circles. On site, he wanted to discuss with the radical Islamist Taliban ways in which German diplomats could initially become active again in Afghanistan as part of day trips.
According to the report, the Federal Prosecutor is also examining the extent to which members of the Taliban can still be investigated for membership in a terrorist organization if the Taliban are considered to be the state power.
The radical Islamists had taken power again in Afghanistan in mid-August, which led to a chaotic withdrawal of the last international forces after almost 20 years of military service in the Hindu Kush. According to “WamS”, the aim of the steps planned by the federal government is to facilitate communication with the Taliban in order to be able to provide better humanitarian aid for the population. In addition, consideration is being given to recognizing passports that were issued under the rule of the Islamists.
This would also facilitate the departure of former local personnel of the Bundeswehr and German organizations to whom the Federal Republic has promised protection. The German government has come under fire for not having flown many local Afghan workers and other vulnerable Afghans before the Taliban came to power. A military airlift for these people to leave Kabul airport only existed until the end of August.