According to the German government, the 20-year deployment of German soldiers and development workers in Afghanistan cost more than 17.3 billion euros. The military made up by far the largest post. “For the involvement of the German Armed Forces in the operations of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and the Resolute Support Mission (RSM) in Afghanistan from 2001 to August 31, 2021 a total of around 12.3 billion euros in additional expenditure due to deployment, ”said a response from the federal government to a small request from the FDP parliamentary group. The answer was available to the German Press Agency.
The Foreign Office spent around 2.48 billion euros on so-called project-related personnel and material costs. This sum does not include personnel and operating costs of the Foreign Office, as they arise in regular diplomatic operations anyway. The development ministry provided around 2.46 billion euros in Afghanistan within 20 years. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture spent 33 million euros in two decades.
Information on the expenditure of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) in Afghanistan was classified as secret. “Disclosing the relevant information would severely impair the fulfillment of the tasks of the Federal Intelligence Service, which in turn could endanger the security of the Federal Republic of Germany or cause serious damage to its interests,” said the Federal Government.
With reference to this, the federal government also classifies as classified information which infrastructure built with German money is now being used by the Taliban. “A response from the federal government to this question intended for publication would make information on the modus operandi, the skills and methods as well as the state of knowledge of the Federal Intelligence Service available to an indefinable group of people not only in Germany but also abroad,” it says.
The Ministry of Defense wants to begin on Wednesday with an assessment of the largely unsuccessful operation. The schedule for this is adhered to even after criticism from the Bundestag, as a spokesman for the ministry made clear on Monday in Berlin. He also referred to an appraisal of the operation planned for October 13th, which the soldiers owe. This also applies to an assessment of the commitment by the highest superiors. “And overall we have to talk openly about what was good, what was not good and what we have learned,” he said.
Defense politicians from several factions want to stay away from the kick-off event planned on Wednesday – combined with criticism of the time chosen for it shortly after the federal election. These include representatives of the Union, the SPD, the FDP and the Greens.