Afghanistan Investigation Committee Continues Witness Examination
November 28, 2024, 11:00 AM
The Afghanistan Investigation Committee (AIC) of the German Bundestag has commenced its second day of witness examinations. The committee is tasked with investigating Germany’s involvement in the 20-year war in Afghanistan and to draw lessons for future foreign missions.
On Tuesday, the AIC heard testimony from former Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière and General Volker Wieker, the former Chief of Staff of the Bundeswehr. Both witnesses provided insights into the decision-making process that led to the deployment of German troops in Afghanistan in 2001.
De Maizière, who served as Defense Minister from 2011 to 2013, said that the decision to deploy troops was made after “weighing up the risks and opportunities.” He emphasized that the mission was initially limited to providing humanitarian aid and training the Afghan security forces.
General Wieker, who was Chief of Staff from 2010 to 2018, gave a detailed account of the military operations in Afghanistan. He acknowledged that the situation on the ground was often more complex and dangerous than anticipated.
The AIC is continuing its witness examinations today, with a focus on the period after 2014, when NATO troops handed over responsibility for security to the Afghan National Security Forces. The committee is expected to hear from a wide range of witnesses, including diplomats, military officials, aid workers, and civil society representatives.
The findings of the AIC are expected to be published in a final report in 2025. The report is likely to make recommendations for reforms to Germany’s foreign and security policy.
Afghanistan-Untersuchungsausschuss setzt Zeugenvernehmung fort
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