German intelligence failed to predict Taliban takeover: Report

BERLIN

Serious intelligence failures has led to Germany’s mismanagement of Afghan evacuations, local media reported on Wednesday.

According to Bild daily, Germany’s foreign intelligence service BND has failed to predict the Taliban’s rapid takeover of Kabul, misleading the government on the unfolding crisis.

An intelligence report discussed during a crisis meeting of government members last Friday underestimated the Taliban’s ambitions and predicted that “Kabul’s takeover by the Taliban before Sept. 11 is rather unlikely.”

The BND’s intelligence assessment stressed that the Taliban’s leadership had no interest in an immediate takeover of Kabul, according to the daily.

As the Taliban seized power in Kabul on Sunday, The German Embassy was rapidly evacuated and staff moved to the military part of the Kabul airport.

So far nearly 500 people, including German citizens, Afghans and nationals of international partners were evacuated from the country, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

More than 10,000 Afghans who worked for German development agencies and NGOs, and their family members, are still trying to flee the country, according to German media reports.

The German government is currently holding talks with the Taliban in Qatar to ensure the remaining German citizens, Afghan local staff and their families will be allowed to leave the country.