Afghanistan, we're packing!
(B2) The Allies are accelerating the withdrawal of their troops from Afghanistan. Following one of NATO's longest operations, the task ahead is Herculeane and sensitive
The departure is recorded for the Americans
Originally scheduled before May 1 – this was included in the agreement signed between the USA and the Taliban during the Trump era – the withdrawal had been suspended until the new US Democratic administration of Joe Biden decides. Two months after his arrival at the White House, the sentence fell: the Americans withdraw. And everything must be finished no later than September 11, 2021. Symbolic date: twenty years after the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and on the Pentagon. The very people who had triggered the intervention in Afghanistan.
The Germans follow
The allies will also organize their departure. The withdrawal of the German contingent (the second largest contingent, with around 1100 soldiers) should be completed by July 4, Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer announced to members of the Defense Committee in Berlin ( on 21.04). According to our colleague from Augergeradeaus, the date was communicated by the American HQ of the mission Resolute Support, to correspond with the American National Day.
... like the Belgians or Swedish
On the Belgian side, the withdrawal of the 72 soldiers based in Mazar-e-Sharif “ will be completed for the summer “, indicated mid-April (19.04) Ludivine Dedonder, the Belgian Minister of Defence. Three days later (22.04), the head of Swedish joint operations, Michael Claesson announced that " Swedish military personnel will leave Afghanistan no later than September, in close cooperation with Germany and NATO “, without further details. Knowing that the Swedish contingent is limited to 16 people, mainly staff staff, based on Camp Marmal, outside Mazar-e Sharif.
Logistics, what separates order from disorder
But the move promises to be intense. The most striking example is that of Germany. Berlin must repatriate the equivalent of 800 containers of materials, as indicated by the Bundeswehr. Air transport will be provided by the largest cargo planes in the world: the Antonov An-124. As part of the SALIS program (Strategic Airlift International Solution) of NATO. On the Swedish side, their contribution does not include heavy equipment systems and, therefore, no special transport is needed to repatriate personnel.
A start under tension
A withdrawal without waves cannot therefore be done without well-oiled logistics. With this in mind, 170 German log specialists are deployed in the Mazar-e-Sharif camp. The objective is not to let too much drag on the spot to avoid attacks or attacks (the summer being often conducive to this). German and Dutch security forces must precisely ensure the protection of this withdrawal against possible attacks. A Bundeswehr mortar platoon was deployed at the end of April, along with 80 other infantrymen from the Dutch land component, also equipped with mortars. The Bundeswehr forces will have at their disposal protected vehicles with their associated weapon systems and Heron1 and Aladin drones.
Return of land
The buildings and the sets, with the infrastructures built by the NATO troops will be handed over to the Afghan administration. Non-military equipment that is too expensive to return (furniture, office supplies, etc.) will be sold locally or donated. During the handover negotiations, it was agreed that the Marmal land (base adjacent to Mazar-E-Sharif airport) would be handed over “ as is ».
The thorny question of performers
The great concern is on the side of the interpreters, who fear being targeted by the Taliban as soon as the troops leave. On the American side, a special program already exists: the special immigrant visa program (SIV), allowing them to join the United States. For the 300 Afghans who work for the German army in Afghanistan, the government offers every local staff member at risk and their families admission to Germany ».
(Jean-Stanislas Bareth, st.)
- the container is the theoretical basis for calculating the transport space of a material, it is not really about containers)
