Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to testify before the Bundestag’s Afghanistan inquiry committee on December 5. Her testimony marks the culmination of a series of high-profile hearings examining Germany’s chaotic response to the Taliban’s unexpected seizure of Kabul in August 2021.
The inquiry seeks to uncover why Merkel’s government, intelligence agencies, and allied nations were blindsided by the Taliban’s swift advance, leading to a disorganized evacuation of German citizens and Afghan allies.
Former Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who recently testified, acknowledged misjudging the situation, stating, “All of us—government, intelligence services, and the international community—misread the Taliban’s capabilities.” Despite transparent inter-ministerial cooperation, Maas admitted delays in issuing visas for Afghan allies may have cost lives.
Development Minister Gerd Müller similarly testified that his ministry had been planning continued operations in Afghanistan until the last moment, calling the withdrawal of international forces an “absolute surprise.”
Angela Merkel’s role remains under scrutiny, with committee chair Jörg Nürnberger describing her as more of a coordinator than a decision-maker during the crisis. However, her memoirs reveal that just two days before Kabul’s fall, she authorized preparations for an evacuation.
The committee, established in 2022, aims to present its final report by 2025, shedding light on one of Germany’s most significant foreign policy crises.
