A month ago, the Ambassador of Afghanistan in Berlin, Yama Yari, and the Afghan Consul in Bonn, Sayed Lutfullah Sadat, resigned from their posts due to the “lack of interaction” with Afghanistan’s caretaker government.
Afghanistan’s political relations with Germany date back nearly a century and a half. During the reign of Amir Abdur Rahman Khan, Germany began establishing a weapons factory in Afghanistan, and there was also cooperation with the government of Amir Habibullah Khan. These ties took a new direction during the reign of Ghazi Amanullah Khan.
In 1923, Germany opened its first consulate in Kabul, and soon after, Amanullah Khan made an official visit to Germany. By 1935, weekly commercial flights between Kabul and Berlin were established, further expanding relations and cooperation. This development raised concerns in both the Soviet Union and Britain.
Both London and Moscow urged Kabul to sever ties with Germany, but Kabul refused. The then Minister of Economy, Abdul Majid Zabuli, also made visits to Germany. However, as political instability in Afghanistan grew, the Afghan government shifted its alignment toward the Soviet Union, causing relations with Germany to weaken.
Reports indicate that by the 1970s, around 2,000 Afghans were living in Germany. Over time, the Afghan refugee population in Germany steadily increased, reaching 75,000 by 2014. By mid-2024, this number had risen to 452,000.
In 2001, the decision to establish a transitional government for Afghanistan was made in the German city of Bonn, which laid the groundwork for 20 years of democratic governance in the country.
A discussion has been held with Dr. Ismail Atmar, a professor at a German university and political analyst, regarding the current political relations between Afghanistan and Germany, as well as the reasons behind the recent resignations of Afghan diplomats. We bring this discussion to your attention.
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