Has German presence in Afghanistan backfired?

The clock was ticking, but questions seemed far from reaching an end.

During the roundtable at the German Bundestag with Ruprecht Polenz, Chairman of the German committee of Foreign Affairs, it seemed that everything needed to be debated regarding the German policy in Afghanistan. From national to European interests in the region, from the relationship with neighboring countries to the doubts about the international mission in the country after the German offensive in Kunduz.

One Forum participant dared: "Has German presence in Afghanistan backfired?". Polenz answered firmly:  "Germany declared unlimited solidarity with the US Government”. And, "we promised Afghanistan that we would help", he reminded.

For the Chairman, the German presence on the territory is still a question of national security. A fact that, according to him, is still possible to express to the public opinion.

Despite possible criticisms, Ruprecht Polenz defends that an immediate retreat would be problematic:

"There are now many people in Afghanistan that want to build up their country and that are in danger if we retreat right now", he said. A new plan for Afghanistan would therefore be required: a strategy not only concerning the military operations, but one that could also include a wider view of the region, of Afghanistan and its neighbors, and a transition in responsibility, to apply on within a larger time frame.

Part of that construction has already been made, by national and international actors. And the recent re-election of Hamid Karzai as president will seemingly dictate the country's future during the next years.