Germany
Profile
Germany was a major contributor to peace and development efforts in Afghanistan over the previous 20 years since the Taliban takeover. As such, it represents an important European leader and advocate for humanitarian assistance and human rights in Afghanistan. Like other European nations, Germany has consistently focused on humanitarian obligations in the wake of the Afghan crisis, including the responsibility to accept refugees and provide necessary in-country assistance. Women’s rights appear singularly important to the German government, as shown by explicit criticisms of recent restrictive policies and pre-emptive warnings against Sharia law. Germany has conducted limited engagement with the Taliban and regional actors, including a November 2021 visit to Kabul and a March 2022 visit to Pakistan. However, the war in Ukraine appears to be diverting German attention, even on important humanitarian obligations.
Key Interests & Priorities
1. Humanitarian Assistance
The humanitarian crisis and human rights are among the top priorities for Germany in Afghanistan. Like other European actors, German institutions espouse humanitarian principles that theoretically obligate them to support vulnerable populations around the world. Germany’s role in the war in Afghanistan heightens the sense of duty to protect Afghans following the full international withdrawal. German discourse centered the obligation to Afghans who assisted German and international actors and especially vulnerable groups, including ethnic minorities. These obligations include the evacuation of at-risk individuals, granting of visas, and support of various kinds. However, recent reports highlight that the war on Ukraine is a persistent distraction to German humanitarian efforts. Afghanistan occupies a significantly lower priority than the war in Ukraine and raises doubts about Germany’s willingness to fully follow through on its humanitarian obligations.
2. Human Rights
Within the umbrella of human rights, Germany has a particular interest in promoting women’s rights in Afghanistan. After the Taliban takeover in August 2021, one of the largest concerns for Germany and the international community was the deterioration of women’s rights to the repressive levels of the Taliban’s previous rule, from 1996 to 2001. These fears have largely been realized, with the Taliban intimidating and kidnapping women activists, banning women from secondary education, and mandating the burqa in public. Germany has a noted “feminist” foreign policy, so promoting women’s rights emerges as a particularly compelling obligation. As such, Germany continues to denounce each new repressive decree, support calls for the expansion of women’s rights, and argue for the conditioning of recognition and aid on such an expansion.
3. Inclusive Government
The creation of an inclusive Afghan government is another important item on the German agenda. In September 2021, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that Germany would explicitly condition recognition of the Taliban government on the creation of an inclusive government. Germany is also a strong advocate for less Islamist government, reporting shortly after the August 2021 takeover that financial assistance would be stopped if Sharia law were implemented.