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Federal Foreign Minister Maas in Afghanistan: "We absolutely want to prevent a relapse into old times"
Photo: Michael Fischer / dpa
The withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan is getting closer, and according to NATO plans, the last German field camp in Mazar-e-Sharif could be closed as early as the beginning of July.
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) has now visited the capital Kabul - and Afghanistan has promised further support for the time after the NATO mission.
"Germany remains a reliable partner by the side of the people in Afghanistan," said Maas.
The military operation will end soon, but the engagement will continue at all other levels.
“It is in our European interest to create good and secure prospects for Afghans.
We absolutely want to prevent a relapse into old times. "
USA rush with deduction
Maas visits Afghanistan just two days before the official start of the NATO troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
In Kabul, for example, he wanted to meet President Ashraf Ghani and then visit the army camp in Mazar-i-Sharif in the north of the country.
The visit takes place under massive security precautions.
Two weeks ago, NATO decided to bring home the 10,000 or so soldiers who were still in Afghanistan after almost 20 years.
Before that, the USA, as the largest provider of troops, had committed itself to leaving the country by September 11th - the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of the Al Qaeda network in the USA.
In the meantime, a shortening of the withdrawal period until July 4th, the national holiday of the USA, is under discussion.
With 1,100 soldiers, Germany has the second largest contingent in Afghanistan after the USA.
"The peace process needs a new diplomatic push."
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas
The talks in Kabul will focus on the time after the withdrawal. Maas said that Germany would continue to support the Afghan government's currently faltering peace negotiations with the militant Islamist Taliban. "The peace process needs a new diplomatic push," said Maas. "There is no easy negotiated solution, but the negotiations remain the best chance for a sustainable, secure and stable future for the country."
The Foreign Minister also pledged further civil aid.
For this purpose, Germany has made 430 million euros available for the current year.
The same amount has been promised for the next few years until 2024.
However, the federal government wants to make the payments dependent on the further development of the peace process and also on other factors such as the human rights situation in the country.
The deduction is also secured
May 1st is the official start date for the withdrawal.
The preparations at the individual bases are already in full swing - also with the Bundeswehr.
The camp near Mazar-i-Sharif is the largest Bundeswehr base outside Germany.
From there, among other things, 123 vehicles and six helicopters as well as tons of other material - a total of 800 container loads - are to be transported back to Germany over the next few weeks.
It is feared that the rebellious Taliban will torpedo the withdrawal with attacks.
For this reason, additional security forces are currently being sent to Afghanistan.
The last German soldier is said to have left the camp by mid-August at the latest.
After almost 20 years, this will end the most lossy and expensive foreign assignment in the history of the Bundeswehr.
59 German soldiers have lost their lives since the start of the mission in Afghanistan.
The operation, which was originally intended to safeguard peace and then became a combat operation against the rebellious Taliban, cost more than 12 billion euros.
Most recently, the core mission of the NATO force was the training of Afghan armed forces.
fek / dpa
