Germany: Merkel announces end of German airlift following Kabul airport blasts

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the immediate end of Germany’s airlift efforts in Afghanistan, during press statement in Berlin, following blasts outside Kabul’s airport on Thursday.

Merkel added all other opportunities to evacuate German citizens and at-risk Afghans from country will be used. The Foreign Office is currently negotiating conditions for further evacuations with the Taliban.

“Considering the security situation, we have now terminated the airlift, but we will use every opportunity to bring more people who wish to leave the country to safety,” she said.

According to the Foreign Ministry, about 200 German citizens are believed to still be in Kabul.

The Chancellor was speaking at a meeting with international economic and financial organisations.

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SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (Deutsch): “This afternoon we received reports of explosions in front of Kabul airport. It is believed that it was one or more suicide attacks. In the last few days there have been repeated warnings about such attacks, and the fact that this has now happened is of course depressing news. We don’t know all the details yet, but the terrorists have targeted people who have been waiting in front of the airport gates and are hoping to leave. They want security and freedom for themselves and that is why this is an absolutely vile attack in a very, very tense situation. And at this moment, of course, I am thinking of the victims and their relatives.”

SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (Deutsch): “I hope that the necessary medical help can be given quickly. And we know and hear that it apparently also hit US soldiers and in this context I want to emphasise again in what outstanding way the soldiers of the United States of America work together with the nations that are evacuating their citizens and at-risk Afghan citizens over there.”

SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (Deutsch): “The events of this afternoon have shown us that the risk is immense and that it’s a very high pressure situation with which people are brought out of the country and through which the airlift has to work. We know that the window of opportunity is closing. 10,000 people could be brought to safety. But today I want to reaffirm that we will not forget those who can no longer be brought to safety by airlift. We will continue to try to get them out of the country. The Foreign Ministry, especially Mr Potzel, is talking to the Taliban about this, and we will also coordinate internationally how we should proceed.”

SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (Deutsch): “So the Federal Minister of Defence will inform you in a moment or, if necessary, in parallel with this press conference, but we will end the airlift today. And we are in the process of negotiating conditions with the Taliban on how further departures will be possible. The ambassador Potzel had already commented on this yesterday. Everything depends of course on the security situation. If there are still German citizens, we have to consider that whole thing is an international operation, the USA are still at the airport. So we will continue to work together, but the Federal Defence Minister will provide the details to you.”

SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (Deutsch): “I cannot give you any details today beyond what I just said to Mr Blank. Considering the security situation, we have now terminated the airlift, but we will use every opportunity to bring more people who wish to leave the country to safety. Efforts are ongoing and we will always keep you informed about the details.”

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