BERLIN, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A first German military plane to land in Kabul since the Taliban takeover evacuated only seven people, the government said on Tuesday, due to chaos at the Afghan capital’s airport.
Germany, which had the second-largest military contingent in Afghanistan after the United States, wants to airlift thousands of German-Afghan dual nationals as well as rights activists, lawyers and people who worked with foreign forces.
Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said the A400M transport plane undertook a “breakneck landing” on Monday evening, with its main aim to bring in German soldiers to secure the evacuation.
“We have a very chaotic, dangerous and complex situation at the airport,” she told broadcaster ARD. “We had very little time, so we only took on board people who were on site.”
Only seven made it as the plane had to leave quickly, and other Germans could not get into the airport without protection from German soldiers, a foreign ministry spokesperson said.
“Admission of people from the civilian part of the airport was not made possible by the partners exercising security responsibility at the airport,” the spokesperson said.
With 600 soldiers due to take part in the evacuation, Germany hopes to be able to get more people out in the coming hours.
Flights resumed early on Tuesday after evacuations were suspended the day before as people crowded the runway trying to flee after Taliban insurgents seized power.
Germany is waiting for US permission to fly a second aircraft in from Tashkent, which it is using as a hub.
Kramp-Karrenbauer hoped the airport could be kept open for several days so as many people as possible could be evacuated.
“Those are not only German citizens, they are also local staff, at-risk people. We will also support other countries,” she added,” she said.
Germany’s president criticised Western powers over chaotic scenes at Kabul airport where thousands of Afghans gathered in a bid to flee the country after the Taliban swept back to power.
“The images of desperation at Kabul airport are shameful for the political West,” Frank-Walter Steinmeier said, calling the situation in Afghanistan a “human tragedy for which we share responsibility”.
Germany is duty-bound to “do everything it can to bring our people, and all Afghans who stood for years by their side, to safety”, said Steinmeier, who was previously foreign minister.
It also has to help those in Afghanistan who are at risk, including “many courageous women”, he said.
“The failure of the years-long efforts to build a stable and viable society in Afghanistan raises fundamental questions for the past and future of our foreign policy and military engagement,” he said.
