Green politician Nouripour warns against payments to the Taliban

Green foreign policy leader Omid Nouripour

Photo: Sean Gallup / Getty Images

The Taliban are vying for recognition from the West - and financial support.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid had already demanded funds and humanitarian aid from Germany after the takeover, and AfD leader Tino Chrupalla can also imagine supporting the Islamists quickly.

Now the Greens foreign politician Omid Nouripour is warning against payments to the new Afghan government led by the radical Islamic Taliban.

“The Taliban used armed drones in the battle for the Punjir Valley.

They have planes on the ground - if they have money for people who wait and refuel, then they will fly too, ”Nouripour told SWR on Friday.

This means "for the first time in history a terrorist organization with an air force."

Under these circumstances, Nouripour warned that it was “not a good idea” to give money to the Taliban.

It is true to speak to the Taliban correctly.

But it had to be a collaboration "like with hostage-takers," said the Green politician.

It should be about how to get people out of Afghanistan.

Nouripour warns of a return to the 1990s

"The Taliban want to move the country back to the 1990s, when women's rights were not valid and human rights were trampled on," said the Green politician. He suggested that international aid planned for the country should go to the UN organizations that are still working in Afghanistan, for example for people seeking protection or health care. These organizations are chronically and massively underfunded and poorly staffed.

The Taliban had regained power in Afghanistan before the NATO troops were completely withdrawn.

Foreign Minister Heiko Maas had initially announced that he would not send the Islamists "a cent", and later he agreed to cooperate under certain circumstances.

Germany’s further engagement in Afghanistan depends on the further behavior of the militant Islamists.

"The announcement of a transitional government without the participation of other groups and yesterday's violence against demonstrators and journalists in Kabul are not the signals that give reason for optimism," said Maas.

mrc / AFP