The use of the Bundeswehr in Afghanistan is to continue. But he still has a future, if the USA were to pull from the Hindu Kush? In the Bundestag, the doubts grow.
Since 2001, Germany is involved in Afghanistan – currently with approximately 1200 German soldiers. What, as a direct response to the terrorist attacks of September 11. September began that has now become a training and Advisory mission of the NATO. Germany is engaged in the Resolute Support Mission on 1. January 2015 the ISAF Mission of NATO has to be replaced. The mandate must be extended by the Bundestag. Currently, an extension is. The is controversial.
Back in the USA?
Led “Resolute Support” of the United States, currently with approximately 14,000 forces. However, it is exactly behind this troop is a big question mark, ever since US President, Donald Trump has announced that the armed forces out of Afghanistan, pull it off. A timetable for this, he has not presented, and it is completely unclear when and whether in fact the Americans in Afghanistan could leave. Experts are now concerned. Conrad Schetter, Afghanistan expert at the International conversion centre Bonn (Bonn International Center for Conversion), in an interview with DW: “The NATO Mission is fully dependent upon the logistics of the American army. Without the Americans, no NATO Partner may continue his stay in Afghanistan.”
At the same time the Situation in the country had become in the past few years, unsafe. Therefore, the Germans could not leave, even in the event of a withdrawal of the U.S. – Afghanistan. “After such a deduction, the danger that the country falls apart there,” says Schetter.
Afghanistan looks to be on a good way: foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD)
Maas: “New Phase” in Afghanistan
Despite the Worry about the whereabouts of the Alliance partner: The Federal government wants to extend the deployment for one year. In addition, the Bundestag discussed on Thursday. Federal foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) sees the stabilization of the country, a “generation task”. Maas is sure: “the fact That our military is no longer needed Engagement with the beginning of the peace process is a dangerous Illusion”. Maas emphasized his Belief that the Americans would inform their NATO allies at an early stage about your plans.
With a view to a possible withdrawal of the American Minister of defence Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) added, it is the common principle within NATO: the applicable “together in, together out”. Finally, all had been of the opinion that the Afghan security forces could restore security in the country alone. Afghanistan still has a long way to peace. “Things are going slowly but surely in the right direction,” said von der Leyen.
Where is the exit strategy?
The opposition factions in the Bundestag, criticized, and could not be without an exit strategy in a 19. Year of the Afghanistan mission. “The times are a ‘More so’ slowly but surely come to an end”, the FDP-MEP Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann. To outline since the Federal government had failed, a scenario for the case that the U.S. troops leave the country at the Hindu Kush. Also, you asked why the mandate against the Background of not first to six months, but a year would be extended.
American soldiers of the “Resolute Support”Mission loading a helicopter
The foreign policy spokesman of the Alliance 90/The Greens, Omid Nouripour told the DW already in the run-up to the debate, that in his opinion a German commitment without American support, have no future. “A reliable German involvement remains, however, necessary for successful peace negotiations. If we want to stabilise the situation, must be able to argue a strong Afghan government in the negotiations with the Taliban for co-determination and human rights.”
The AfD and the Left want to immediately trigger
Stefan defendant Liebig of the group of “The Left”, and Donald Trump have no Plan for Afghanistan. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that the Germans would be involved in an American withdrawal plan in a timely manner. “Each year more in Afghanistan is one too many,” says Liebig.
Armin-Paul Hampel from the Alternative for Germany, demanded the immediate withdrawal from Afghanistan. Germany had no interest in the fate of German soldiers. “There is no peace in the Hindu Kush and we have no business there”, the foreign policy spokesman of the AfD.