Diksia.com - The US-United Nations (UN)-led military operation in Afghanistan lasted 20 years – from 2001 to 2021.
Germany was also involved in the mission. Eventually, however, the international mission was expelled and the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan.
Since November 2021, a commission in the German Bundestag has been trying to find out why this happened and what lessons can be learned from this ordeal.
The commission convened experts from politics, the military, development cooperation and security authorities. One of the most prominent sources is former Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer (Greens).
Two years after the hasty withdrawal of German Bundeswehr troops in August 2021, he defended his military and humanitarian commitment: “I don’t think it was a mistake.”
said Joschka Fischer, who was foreign minister at the beginning of the Afghanistan mission. At that time, Germany participated in Afghanistan on the basis of “unreserved solidarity” with the United States, which suffered the attacks of September 11, 2001, and in accordance with the principle of NATO’s defense unity.
Joschka Fischer, who was in office until 2003, justified the failure of the Afghanistan mission with a lack of military power and the associated lack of political influence. A lesson he drew from the mission: “That we should prepare for more difficult missions and prepare the skills.”
Fischer stressed that he saw no contradiction between civil aid, security measures and a strong military presence.
Joschka Fischer’s assessment after the withdrawal of international troops is pessimistic: Afghanistan will remain an unsafe place for a long time, and a humanitarian catastrophe is in sight.
“It is clear that the Taliban will not give up anything … which has been achieved through small and arduous victories in the reconstruction process,” said the former German foreign minister.
Girls and women will suffer the most when the Taliban return to power. At that time, the former Minister for Development Cooperation, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul (SPD), campaigned specifically for women’s rights.
