“The images of desperation at the Kabul airport are shameful for the political West,” Frank-Walter Steinmeier told a news conference in Berlin, a day after thousands of Afghans flocked to Kabul’s airport, tried to flee the country on departing planes. “In these days, we are experiencing a human tragedy for which we share responsibility, and a political turning point that has shaken us and will change the world,” he stressed. Germany had the second-largest military contingent in Afghanistan after the US, and 59 German soldiers had lost their lives in fighting the Taliban. On Tuesday, Steinmeier called on German authorities to make every effort for Afghans who are in need of help, and evacuate all those who worked for the German army and other agencies. In the past couple of weeks, Berlin evacuated nearly 2,000 local staff from Afghanistan, according to the government.

Source: The Nation August 17, 2021 13:52 UTC