Germany Rejects Calls To Return Troops To Afghanistan

FILE PHOTO. © Reuters / Hauke-Christian Dittrich 

 DW: Afghanistan: Germany rejects calls to return troops as Taliban seizes cities 

The Taliban have captured their sixth provincial capital in four days — including a city where German troops were stationed for a decade. Now, some want the Bundeswehr to go back in, but the defense minister says no. 

On Monday, the militant Taliban announced they had captured Aybak, the capital of the northern Afghan province of Samangan — the sixth provincial capital to fall to the group in four days. 

Reports from the city say pro-government forces fled Aybak after the government in Kabul failed to send reinforcements and air support. 

Monday's news followed that of similar military victories over the weekend in which the radical group captured capitals across the country in quick succession, including Kunduz — a strategic crossroads with good access to much of northern Afghanistan, as well as the capital, Kabul, about 335 kilometers (200 miles) away.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Uproar after German parliament committee head suggests preparing for INTERVENTION in Afghanistan...again (RT) 

Update #2: Germany rejects calls to send military back to Afghanistan (Al Jazeera)  

WNU Editor: Germany is not alone in rejecting calls to return troops to Afghanistan .... Afghanistan betrayed by NATO's retreat: Defence Secretary claims western allies snubbed British plea to stay on after US withdrawal... as Taliban takes control of FIVE provincial capitals (Daily Mail).

Germany Is Shipping The Army Beer That It Has In Afghanistan Back To Germany

Spiegel Online/DPA  

BBC: Germany to ship army beer home from Afghanistan 

Germany has announced it will fly more than 22,500 litres of beer home from Afghanistan, as Nato forces prepare to withdraw. 

Commanders had recently banned soldiers from drinking amid growing violence in Afghanistan ahead of the withdrawal. 

Local forces were unable to sell the alcohol due to religious and cultural differences in Afghanistan. 

A defence ministry spokeswoman said on Monday that they had found a civilian contractor to repatriate the drinks.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Homer Simpson would approve!

Germany Extends Its Military Mission In Afghanistan Until January 2022

US News and World Report/Reuters: Germany Extends Military Mission in Afghanistan Into 2022 

BERLIN (REUTERS) - Germany paved the way for its troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond an April 30 deadline that the United States last year agreed with the Taliban for the withdrawal of U.S. forces after nearly two decades of war.

Lawmakers approved late on Thursday a new mandate which allows the German military to keep up to 1,300 troops in Afghanistan as part of a NATO mission until Jan 31, 2022. 

The current parliamentary mandate for the German operation expires at the end of March. The new U.S. government is still reviewing the 2020 agreement with the Taliban so it is not yet clear whether or for how long NATO troops will stay. 

Read more .... 

Update: Germany Extends Military Presence in Afghanistan into 2022 (TOLO News) 

WNU editor: Good question .... Was Germany's military mission in Afghanistan worth it? (DW).