Latest News
German military completes withdrawal from Afghanistan
The German military late on Tuesday concluded its withdrawal from Afghanistan after almost two decades, finishing Germany’s deadliest military mission since World War 2.
“Our last troops left Afghanistan this night after almost 20 years and are on their way home,” German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said in a statement.
“This is the end of a historic chapter, of an intensive mission which has tested the Bundeswehr and in which the Bundeswehr has proven itself in combat.”
It was in Afghanistan that Germany’s military fought the first ground battles since the end of World War 2.
U.S. President Joe Biden and NATO announced in mid-April that they would pull out the roughly 10,000 foreign troops still in Afghanistan at the time by Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York that prompted the mission.
Over the last years, Germany had the second largest contingent of troops after the United States in Afghanistan, with around 150,000 soldiers deployed over the past two decades, many of them serving more than one tour in the country.
Fifty-nine German soldiers died in Afghanistan, 35 of them killed in combat or as a result of militant attacks, making it Germany’s deadliest military mission since World War 2.
Wrapping up the operation, Germany said it would have to redeploy the equivalent of around 800 containers of equipment such as armoured vehicles, helicopters, weapons and ammunition as the drawdown began.
The multinational camp in northern Mazar-i-Sharif led by Germany had been reinforced with troops and mortars, ramping up security for the duration of the withdrawal to guard the base against attacks by the Taliban.
The Taliban severely curtailed women’s and other human rights during their reign in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, when they were ousted by U.S.-led forces. Since then they have waged a long-running insurgency and now control wide swathes of territory.
Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq met on Saturday and discussed bilateral relations, political and economic cooperation, security and transit, said Zia Ahmad Takal, head of public relations at Foreign Ministry in a statement.
In this meeting, Muttaqi emphasized that obstacles to trade and transit are not in anyone’s interest and that certain issues should not be linked together.
He added that the process of Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan should be carried out gradually and with dignity.
According to the statement, Pakistan’s special representative also acknowledged that ensuring security in Afghanistan benefits both Pakistan and the region.
He committed to introducing measures to facilitate the visa issuance process for Afghan citizens.
Mohammad Sadiq also stated that practical steps will be taken to resolve existing trade and transit challenges.
The Afghan embassy in Oslo will resume consular services on coming Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul announced Saturday.
The ministry said in a statement that the resumption of consular services in Norway was a “positive step.”
In August last year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul declared the consular services of Afghan missions in 14 Western countries including Norway to be invalid.
The statement cited corruption, lack of transparency and non-coordination with the ministry as reasons for the closure.
Eighteen people were injured following a dispute between two brothers in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province on Friday, local officials said.
The incident occurred in the Old Bazaar area of Gereshk district and the people were injured when the son of one of the two brothers threw a hand grenade, the provincial department of information and culture said.
Two of the injured people are said to be in critical condition.
Officials did not say what caused the dispute.
One person has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Muttaqi to Pakistani envoy: Trade and transit obstacles benefit no one
Boxing legend George Foreman dies at 76
IEA announces resumption of consular services in Norway
Eighteen injured after dispute between two brothers in Helmand
Ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan will be ‘catastrophic’: UNICEF
Trump says aid in exchange for return of US military hardware in Afghanistan
Next German chancellor: We need to learn from experience in Afghanistan
Bavuma wary of Afghanistan challenge in Champions Trophy
Afghanistan cricket team will never be taken lightly again: Trott
Chinese researchers find bat virus enters human cells via same pathway as COVID
Debate on State of Freedom of Expression
Tahawol: Trump and Putin phone talks discussed
Saar: Heavy death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza discussed
Saar: Discussion on Israel’s deadly attacks on Gaza Strip
Tahawol: Discussion on India, Pakistan trading accusations
-
Latest News5 days agoNational Journalists Day sparks reaction from Afghanistan’s media workers
-
World3 days agoPutin agrees to 30-day halt on energy facility strikes in Ukraine
-
Sport4 days agoIPL 2025 celebrates 18 years of immense success
-
Latest News4 days agoBayat Foundation helps needy families in Kabul during Ramadan
-
Latest News3 days agoTorkham crossing to reopen after 25-day shutdown
-
Latest News4 days agoAfghan-Pakistan talks to reopen Torkham border ‘end on positive note’
-
Latest News3 days agoHelmand environmental department opens new Zoo
-
Latest News2 days agoAfghan prisoners in Iran sent home