The German paratrooper general Jens Arlt painted a dramatic picture of the situation at Kabul airport.

The situation is "highly dynamic and very volatile".

At the airport locks, there were dramatic scenes in heat and dust, reported the commander of the German paratrooper contingent that is responsible for rescuing German citizens and Afghan local staff at the airport.

Peter Carstens

Political correspondent in Berlin

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The brigadier general reported during a live broadcast from the Ministry of Defense to Kabul.

In the background, he described, one could hear gunshots, screams and shouts.

A further worsening of the situation is to be expected.

Thousands are gathered in front of the entrances to the airport.

If people were recognizable who could be picked up by German forces, the paratroopers exposed themselves and tried to pick up individuals.

This leads to a "permanent aggravation of the situation"

In larger groups this is impossible because the crowd immediately moves, pushing massively against the entrances. “People have the feeling that they are running out of time”, which leads to a permanent “worsening of the situation”. When asked whether the deployed paratroopers, like soldiers from other nations, would also penetrate the city to pick up people, Arlt said that it was already difficult to get out, but "extremely difficult" to get back to the airport premises. a massive concentration of people ”.

Arlt, who led KSK commandos for years and has commanded Airborne Brigade 1 for more than a year, did not rule out such paratroopers' actions.

"I'm not giving any information about my own options for action," he said.

In view of the worsening situation, however, the German forces on site are also prepared for their own rapid withdrawal in an emergency.

However, there is hope to be able to stay until the end of August and continue the operation.

The Bundeswehr had evacuated 901 people from Kabul by Wednesday noon.

A total of six Airbus planes are now ready in Uzbekistan.

Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer reported that an A400M that had its landing gear damaged on landing could be repaired with spare parts that had been flown in.