Since the Taliban came to power: German ambassador back to Kabul for the first time

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Women in Kabul: Taliban promise humanitarian aid workers unhindered access to those in need

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HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP

For the first time since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan three months ago, the German government has sent senior diplomats to Kabul.

The Federal Foreign Office announced that the Afghanistan special envoy Jasper Wieck and the designated German ambassador Markus Potzel were in the Afghan capital for talks with the Taliban government on Thursday.

It was about questions "in which practical cooperation is both necessary and possible". This is particularly true when dealing with the humanitarian plight of the Afghan people. The German embassy in Kabul was evacuated in mid-August because of the rapid advance of the Taliban.

Western governments have been in a quandary since the militant Islamists came to power.

You want to help the needy population, but at the same time avoid any support for the internationally unrecognized Taliban government.

This is especially true because the Taliban marginalize girls and women contrary to their promises.

Most schoolgirls in grades seven to twelve are not allowed to attend classes.

Most women in the public service are no longer allowed to work.

The Taliban have spoken of temporary measures, but they have been ongoing so far.

"Commitments noted"

The Foreign Office announced on Thursday that the Taliban government had committed itself during the talks to "guaranteeing humanitarian aid workers - including aid workers - safe and unhindered access to communities and people in need."

The Islamists had also shown understanding "that equal access for girls and boys to education is a national necessity for Afghanistan."

In addition, they had again assured all Afghans who wanted to leave the country to leave the country.

“We have taken note of the commitments.

Any further commitment depends on how it is implemented, ”said the Federal Foreign Office.

Wieck and Potzel were accompanied on the trip by the Dutch special adviser for Afghanistan, Emiel de Bont.

Afghanistan is heavily dependent on foreign aid, which has been severely scaled back since the radical Islamic Taliban militia came to power in August.

The UN has repeatedly warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in the country.

Numerous human rights activists had left the country fearing repression and violence by the Taliban.

A reopening of the German embassy in Kabul is not in sight.

ngo / dpa / afp