Taliban advance puts Berlin under pressure

„Strack-Zimmermann from the FDP now accuses of Foreign Minister Maas of ‚being primarily concerned with pictures‘ of an ‚exodus‘ in the debate about whether to rescue local Afghans and not acting adequately. ‚It is a complete failure,‘ she told DW.  

The floods of mid-July and the climate crisis had overshadowed the German debate about what to do about the Afghans who helped the army and are now under threat. But the triumphant advance of the Taliban, calls for help from Afghans on the ground, members of the Bundeswehr and the media brought the subject back into focus. About 1,800 have made it to Germany since the Bundeswehr withdrew from Afghanistan but thousands more are desperately waiting for a signal of hope. 

FDP, Left Party and Green politicians have all accused the coalition government of lacking a plan and acting too hesitantly. It took until this Saturday for CDU leader and chancellor candidate Armin Laschet call for Germany to rescue former Bundeswehr employees.“