In view of the rapid advance of the Taliban in Afghanistan towards the capital Kabul, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) discussed the next steps in a crisis meeting with part of her cabinet. "It was discussed how, with the help of the Bundeswehr, the fastest possible return of employees of the German embassy and German organizations working in Afghanistan as well as Afghan local staff can be guaranteed," a government spokesman said on request on Saturday. "The German Bundestag will be involved in such a decision," he assures.
According to the information, the Chancellor consulted with Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (both SPD) as well as Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU), Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU), Chancellery Minister Helge Braun (CDU) and a representative of the Ministry for Economic Affairs Collaboration.
This was done in a conference call.
The spokesman said that voting is currently taking place on the exact procedure.
Less than 50 kilometers to Kabul
The Bundeswehr has already started preparations for a heavily secured mission to evacuate German citizens and local staff from Afghanistan. According to information from the German Press Agency, a mandate to be adopted by the Bundestag is being prepared for this purpose. In the coming week, paratroopers from the Rapid Forces Division (DSK), which the Bundeswehr holds ready for such tasks as part of the national risk and crisis preparedness, are to be deployed in the coming week.
The militant Islamist Taliban are continuing their advance in Afghanistan. On Saturday morning there were fighting over Maidan Schar, capital of the Maidan Wardak province around 35 kilometers from Kabul, said MP Hamida Akbari of the German press agency. The Taliban already ruled most of the districts in the province. According to the broadcaster Tolo News, the Islamists are said to have even penetrated into the Char Asiab district, just eleven kilometers south of the capital.
The Taliban had already brought more than half of the 34 provincial capitals under their control.
On Thursday and Friday, Herat and Kandahar, the third and second largest cities in the country, fell to the Islamists.
With Pul-i Alam in the province of Logar, the Taliban have already taken another provincial capital only around 70 kilometers south of Kabul.
Canada wants to take in 20,000 Afghans
The Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has meanwhile announced a "remobilization" of the armed forces. This has "top priority," he said in a televised address on Saturday. In addition, there were “consultations” with political leaders and international partners about a political solution to secure “peace and stability” in the country, assured the President. Ghani does not accept the Taliban's calls for resignation as a prerequisite for talks about a ceasefire and a political solution.
Western states have meanwhile accelerated their efforts to get their own personnel and local Afghan workers to safety from the rapidly advancing Taliban. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said British Embassy staff should leave Kabul within days. London plans to send around 600 soldiers to secure the repatriation of the British. Canada plans to take in more than 20,000 vulnerable Afghans to protect them from the Taliban
As one of only three countries, France continues to issue visas in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, it said on Friday evening in Paris. "Extraordinary efforts" are being made to facilitate access to France for example for Afghan artists, journalists and human rights campaigners. Between May and July, 625 local Afghan workers who were employed by French organizations and authorities were taken in with their families in France.