UK and Germany Accelerate Withdrawal of Embassy Staff from Afghanistan (Comprehensive)

▲Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] As the Afghan government has effectively surrendered to the Taliban, European countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany are hastening the withdrawal of their embassy personnel stationed in Afghanistan.

On the 15th (local time), dpa news agency reported that German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas announced plans to withdraw German embassy staff and diplomats stationed in Afghanistan.

Minister Maas told the German media Bild Sunday edition, "Our top priority now is the safety of our embassy staff," adding, "We will not allow our people to fall into the hands of the Taliban."

The media reported that the German Air Force will send a military transport plane to Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, on the 16th.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her cabinet held an emergency meeting the previous day to discuss ways to bring back diplomatic personnel and staff working for German institutions as quickly as possible.

The German military has already begun preparations.

Sources told dpa that a rapid deployment division's paratrooper unit is scheduled to be deployed next week.

In Afghanistan, as the withdrawal of international coalition forces including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany nears completion, the Islamic militant group Taliban has rapidly expanded its influence, effectively taking control of most major cities.

Germany had previously stationed troops in Afghanistan but completed its withdrawal at the end of June.

Western countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada are successively withdrawing or reducing embassy staff in Afghanistan or temporarily deploying troops to evacuate their nationals.

The Times reported on the 15th, citing senior government officials, that the UK is also deploying troops to evacuate the ambassador and staff from the Afghanistan embassy and to close the embassy.

A UK government official said, "The Air Force plans to evacuate diplomats and others," adding, "There is no trust with the Taliban."

The UK has begun preparations to withdraw a total of 5,500 people, including 500 UK government staff including embassy personnel, 1,800 to 2,000 interpreters, and 3,000 aid workers.

The UK recently withdrew 600 military personnel stationed in Afghanistan, but now needs to send a similar number of troops again to evacuate its nationals. The advance team already left for Afghanistan on the night of the 12th, and on the 13th, the Air Force sent a transport plane to the intermediate stopover in Cyprus.