After the troops withdrew, the situation in Afghanistan worsened dramatically within a very short time.
The Taliban now control more than two thirds of the country.
After the troops withdrew from Afghanistan, the Taliban have now taken the 15th provincial town in the country.
The militia now controls two thirds of the country after taking the second largest city, Kandahar.
Due to the escalating situation in the crisis area, the USA and Great Britain are again sending soldiers to provide support on the ground.
Update from August 13, 1:28 p.m.:
With reference to the escalation in the crisis area Afghanistan *
(see first report)
, the Foreign Office's crisis team is meeting at the current hour with representatives of all federal ministries involved regarding the further course of action, as a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said in Berlin announced. Among other things, it would be about "increasing our options for action on site". The federal government wants to decide on the next steps, in particular the departure of German citizens and former Afghan local staff. The speaker did not want to answer specific questions with reference to the ongoing meetings.
The Federal Foreign Office estimates the number of Germans currently in Afghanistan to be in the high double-digit range, not counting members of the Bundeswehr * and other "seconded personnel", for example in the embassy.
The spokesman confirmed the situation on site “very closely”.
The rapid deterioration in the security situation is "very worrying".
The Federal Government is in "intensive contact with our international partners" and coordinates very closely with them - also with regard to measures by other countries.
Afghanistan: Taliban take second largest city - USA and Germany react
With a view to former Afghan local staff who fear acts of revenge by the rapidly advancing radical Islamic Taliban, the Foreign Office spokesman referred to statements made by Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) on Thursday.
They want to organize one or two charter flights before the end of the month to bring those affected and their families to Germany.
As a spokesman for the Federal Ministry of the Interior emphasized, the departure does not fail because of the cost issue: The departure of local staff is already financially supported - for example by assuming ticket costs.
One is currently struggling with the problem that the Afghan side sees a “passport requirement” for leaving the country, although entry into Germany is also permitted without a passport.
Update from August 13, 12:33 p.m .:
Kabul - The United States has been withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan * for several weeks. But no sooner had the withdrawal started than the situation in the crisis area worsened. On Friday night, Afghanistan's second largest city, Kandahar, fell into the hands of the militant Islamist Taliban, government officials confirmed on Friday.
Kandahar is considered the birthplace of the Taliban * and the economic center of the south.
According to the government spokesman, all government institutions in the second largest city are under the control of the insurgents.
The militia has also captured other cities in the provinces of Herat, Gasni, Helmard and Ghor - most recently, according to the Afghan armed forces, they stormed the long-contested provincial city of Laschkar Gah.
This means that the insurgents control the 15th provincial town and more than two thirds of the country just a few weeks after the start of the withdrawal.
Further territorial gains by the Taliban: USA and Great Britain respond with troops
Due to the rapid advance, the Taliban are now only 150 kilometers from Afghanistan's capital Kabul.
Kabul is one of the few large cities besides Jalalabad in the east and Mazar-i-Sharif in the north of the country that is still controlled by the Afghan government.
+
Supporters of the militant Islamist Taliban patrol the city of Gasni in eastern Afghanistan.
© Gulabuddin Amiri / dpa / AP
In view of the precarious security situation in the country, the US Department of Defense has announced that it will send 3,000 soldiers to Afghanistan *. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in Washington on Thursday that these should protect the airport in Kabul and guarantee the secure withdrawal of US soldiers and the orderly reduction of the US embassy. In addition, soldiers are standing by in Kuwait and Qatar for reinforcement.
In response to the current situation, Turkey had agreed to secure the international airport after the troops withdrew.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he wanted to discuss this with the Taliban.
Great Britain also announced the sending of troops to Kabul.
The approximately 600 soldiers should "support the diplomatic presence in Kabul, help British citizens leave the country and support the departure of former Afghan local staff who risked their lives while working on our side," said Defense Minister Ben Wallace on Thursday evening.
Taliban militia conquest concerns control large areas of Afghanistan
Other governments also reacted to the worsening crisis: The Taliban should resume fundamental discussions with the Afghan government about the future of the country and immediately stop their attacks, urged EU Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell. Otherwise, the EU threatened international "isolation" in the event of a violent seizure of power. Germany will also put the annual aid payments of 430 million euros on hold "when the Taliban have taken over completely, introduce Sharia law and this country becomes a caliphate," as Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) * announced on ZDF. Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU) expressed concern about the latest developments: The territorial gains of the Taliban are "very,very bitter ”-“ especially with a view to our commitment over the past 20 years, ”she said on Deutschlandfunk. She ruled out another international assignment.
From 1996 to 2001, the Taliban controlled large parts of Afghanistan.
Then the US-led intervention began under the name "Operation Enduring Freedom" with the aim of repelling the terrorist group Al-Qaeda *.
All remaining troops are to be withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of August.
In a statement on Tuesday (local time) in the White House, President Joe Biden * saw the responsibility of the Afghan armed forces to “fight for their state” and to be superior to the Taliban in terms of troop strength.
In fact, since the withdrawal began, the Taliban have taken control of most of the country at breakneck speed.
* Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
(afp / klb)
List of rubric lists: © Gulabuddin Amiri / AP / dpa