Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel testified before a parliamentary committee investigating Germany’s role in the chaotic 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal.
Germany’s involvement in Afghanistan ended abruptly on August 15, 2021, when the Taliban seized Kabul. The German government, including then-Chancellor Angela Merkel, did not anticipate the rapid Taliban takeover, leading to a chaotic evacuation of German citizens and Afghan allies.
Since 2022, a Bundestag inquiry has been investigating the mistakes behind the withdrawal, with Merkel as the final witness. The ex-Chancellor reiterated that the mission was meant to prevent terrorist attacks from Afghanistan.
Angela Merkel acknowledged that foreign governments failed to meet key objectives, such as promoting the rule of law and women’s rights. She also pointed to cultural misunderstandings, nepotism, and drug trafficking as reasons for the failure. She admitted being initially reluctant to evacuate Afghan development workers, fearing it would signal that Germany was abandoning Afghanistan.
Merkel’s testimony aligned with her former colleague, Helge Braun, who defended the Federal Intelligence Service for underestimating the Taliban’s quick takeover.
The inquiry is focused on the decision-making process and coordination between Germ an government departments and international partners. Committee chair Ralf Stegner highlighted the need to question Angela Merkel about U.S. negotiations under Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden, especially concerning the conditions tied to troop withdrawals.
Chairman of Parliamentary Afghanistan Investigation Committee, Ralf Stegner said that, questions will have to be asked about the duty of care towards the local German forces, about the preparations for the evacuation operation and also about the findings of the Federal Intelligence Service as to whether everything was as it should have been.
Former US President Donald Trump continued to criticize the U.S. withdrawal. Called it a "calamity", seeking for accountability. The international mission in Afghanistan has carried on for about two decades with the US leading the way. Germany was also involved from the start, offering military and humanitarian services. The final report from the German inquiry is expected by next February.
Kazakhstan has started construction of its first nuclear power plant near Ulken village, with completion expected in 2035-2036....
The European Union warmly welcomes the meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, hosted by U.S. ...
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on 15 August to negotiate an end to the c...
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev gave an interview to a select group of Azerbaijani journalists in Washington on August 8, includi...
According to Bloomberg News, the United States and Russia are working toward an agreement aimed at halting the war in Ukraine by formalising Russia’...
Kazakhstan has started construction of its first nuclear power plant near Ulken village, with completion expected in 2035-2036.
A fire broke out at Cordoba’s historic mosque-cathedral on the night of 8 August but was swiftly extinguished, preventing damage to one of Spain’s most treasured architectural landmarks.
Wildfires driven by powerful winds swept through Greece on Friday, from the southern outskirts of Athens to the region near Ancient Olympia.
The Canadian government announced Friday it will join key allies in reducing the price cap on Russian seaborne crude oil in response to Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
A resumption of Iraq’s Kurdish oil exports is not expected in the near term, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, despite an announcement by Iraq’s federal government a day earlier stating that shipments would resume immediately.
Chinese automaker Chery has denied an industry-ministry audit that disqualified more than $53 million in state incentives for thousands of its electric and hybrid vehicles, insisting it followed official guidance and committed no fraud.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on 15 August to negotiate an end to the conflict in Ukraine. The summit, confirmed by the Kremlin, is expected to focus on a long-term peaceful resolution.
According to Bloomberg News, the United States and Russia are working toward an agreement aimed at halting the war in Ukraine by formalising Russia’s occupation of territories seized during its invasion.
A fire broke out at Cordoba’s historic mosque-cathedral on the night of 8 August but was swiftly extinguished, preventing damage to one of Spain’s most treasured architectural landmarks.
The Canadian government announced Friday it will join key allies in reducing the price cap on Russian seaborne crude oil in response to Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Washington, D.C., will see its federal security funding reduced by $20 million this year under a Trump administration plan, despite the president’s repeated claims that crime in the capital is spiraling.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment