“Is it all for nothing? No” he said. In the last 20 years, a “nucleus of hope” has emerged that no one can deny.
For Wieczorek-Zeul, the Doha agreement on the withdrawal of American troops, which the United States negotiated with the Taliban in 2020 without the participation of the Afghan government, is an “unforgivable mistake, even a crime against women’s rights”.
Former Defense Minister Thomas de Mazière (CDU) also drew a bitter conclusion from Germany’s engagement in Afghanistan: “The military power of the Taliban is underestimated, the military and political power of the government is exaggerated.”
“Although the armed forces can help ensure the country’s development, they cannot do it alone,” stressed Thomas de Maizière. “But the Bundeswehr will not be pushed into doing what it cannot and should not do – but that’s the way it is.”
Despite the failure of the Afghanistan mission, the former defense minister also concluded that Germany had made a name for itself as a security power.
“Especially because the Bundeswehr has shown that it can command an army, that it can fight, that it is a reliable military partner – even under threat.”
The Federal Intelligence Service (BND) also plays an important role in Afghanistan. The BND is responsible for information about the security situation.
But even ten years after the start of the mission, the framework conditions are still not right, says Gerhard Schindler, President of the BND from 2011 to 2016: “Anyone who wants such a foreign mission must also deal with and deal with it.” Adjust the smallest screws. ” ”
According to Gerhard Schindler, the BND keeps the federal government informed about the development of the security situation in Afghanistan.
On the map, areas controlled by the Afghan government are highlighted in green, areas occupied by the Taliban are highlighted in red. And the red color is getting longer and longer.
The economic situation never developed positively at that time either. “On the contrary, the cultivation of opium poppy and its processing into heroin is increasing rapidly,” said Gerhard Schindler, referring to the drug market, an important source of finance for the Taliban.
