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Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Photo: Bernd von Jutrczenka / dpa
While the shocking scenes from the airport in Kabul go around the world, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier emphasized Germany's shared responsibility for the situation in Afghanistan. "We are experiencing a human tragedy these days, for which we share responsibility, and a political turning point that will shake us and change the world," said Steinmeier. "The images of desperation at Kabul Airport are shameful for the political West."
There are numerous people at the airport in the Afghan capital who urgently want to leave the country for fear of the radical Islamic Taliban that has been in power since the weekend.
Again and again there are pictures of people clinging to passenger boarding bridges or even to military planes - in the hope of somehow being able to fly with them.
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"The dramatic images from Kabul and the events in Afghanistan leave no one untouched," said Steinmeier.
"I'm sure that citizens across the country are thinking of Afghanistan and the Afghan people during these hours."
The news from Afghanistan is particularly depressing for everyone "who has been committed to a better life for the people there over the past 20 years and who have often committed their own health, even their own lives", namely the German soldiers who work there were on duty, and also for the relatives of the fallen.
Germany must now "do everything in its power to bring our compatriots and all Afghans who have stood by their side for years to safety," Steinmeier demanded.
In addition, together with Germany's allies, possibilities must be sought to help those "who are now threatened by violence or death in Afghanistan, including many courageous women."
"Bitter questions" arise after failure in Afghanistan
The Federal President also spoke out in favor of a fundamental discussion of Germany's foreign policy.
"The failure of our years of efforts to build a stable, sustainable community in Afghanistan raises fundamental questions about the past and future of our foreign policy and military engagement - bitter questions that we must answer honestly and thoroughly rather than quickly."
Steinmeier also drew attention to the numerous Bundeswehr soldiers who are currently deployed as part of the evacuation from Afghanistan.
Several hundred members of the Bundeswehr are to secure an airlift to take people threatened by the Taliban out of the country.
Steinmeier said he hoped that "all these brave women and men" would return to Germany safely.
mfh / AFP
