GIZ vs. Taliban: The release of development workers in Afghanistan – and the next incident

It was a development that further increased existing concerns about the human rights situation in Afghanistan: In the autumn of last year, the Taliban arrested four employees of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). There was speculation that the detainees, all of whom were Afghan citizens, were accused of espionage.

The German government was tight-lipped: “We are taking this situation very seriously and are working through all channels available to us to get our colleagues released,” the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development announced at the time. In order not to jeopardize this plan, it was “not possible to provide any further details.”

Ten months later, the German government is still keeping quiet, but the situation has changed. As WELT AM SONNTAG learned from international security circles, the four GIZ employees have been free since an unknown date in the spring. Why the regime in Kabul let them go and what part diplomatic efforts by Berlin or friendly governments may have played in this – all of this is unknown.

The Development Ministry headed by Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD) did not respond to WELT’s request, saying that it was doing so out of “consideration for the safety of the remaining GIZ employees on site.” The GIZ itself referred to the government’s response. The Taliban themselves did not want to comment either. A spokesman said that it was not possible for him to comment on the matter “at this time.”

According to WELT information, at least three of the four released people have since left Afghanistan and their application for a residence permit for Germany is being examined.

Despite the releases, GIZ announced in July – on instructions from the German government – ​​that it would withdraw completely from the country at the end of the year. The employment contracts of local Afghan staff will then also expire; international staff were withdrawn for security reasons shortly after the Taliban took power in August 2021.

The organization has been active in Afghanistan since 2002 and is committed to helping locals cope with everyday life – for example by repairing water pipes, but also by specifically strengthening midwife training and supporting farmers. GIZ does not work directly with the Taliban. In future, local partner organizations will take over GIZ’s tasks. Under no circumstances, according to the Development Ministry, will the commitment be ended. There is talk of a kind of “remote control”.

Another incident this summer shows that the relationship between the German institution and the regime in Kabul is extremely tense: as WELT learned, another GIZ employee was arrested. Here too: no comment from the German government, and the Taliban spokesman also did not comment. According to unconfirmed statements, a court even sentenced the person to several months in prison.

“It is simply dangerous for the GIZ employees on the ground,” said a foreign policy expert familiar with the matter who did not want to be named. The options for German diplomacy in such matters are severely limited following the closure of the embassy in Kabul. Berlin has so far rejected diplomatic contact with the Taliban.

The German government is only in contact with the Taliban’s de facto government through a liaison office in the Qatari capital Doha “for technical discussions,” according to the Foreign Office: These contacts are used, among other things, “to continue to advocate for the people of Afghanistan, especially for the rights of women and girls.”

The high-profile deportation of 28 Afghan criminals from Leipzig to Kabul was also handled via Doha. Since then, there have been complaints about the establishment of direct contacts with Kabul. FDP politician Joachim Stamp, government commissioner for migration agreements, suggested “exploratory talks” with the Taliban in WELT AM SONNTAG, and his party colleague Christoph Hoffmann said: “The Taliban are a fact – even if we don’t like to see it.” The federal government needs these foreign policy forces in Kabul.”

But now Development Minister Schulze has rejected the idea – at least for her area. A ministry spokesperson told WELT: “The recent escalation of the Taliban’s misogynistic policies is terrible.” It is part of a policy “that deliberately excludes women and girls”: “Development cooperation is not possible with such a regime.”

Tim Röhn heads WELT’s investigative department and has been researching the topic of migration since 2016.