German report: Risk for military, modern women grows in Afghanistan

Berlin (dpa) – For soldiers, journalists, human rights activists and modern professional women, life in Afghanistan has recently become more dangerous, according to the current asylum situation report on Afghanistan by the German Foreign Office.

According to the report, which was seen by dpa on Friday, casualties suffered by state security forces in the first quarter of this year were significantly higher than in the previous year, partly due to an increase of over 80 per cent in attacks from within their own ranks.

More journalists, human rights activists and other people who have publicly advocated for a liberal Afghanistan were killed in the second half of 2020, the report added.

In principle, there is no longer a safe place for people from these groups anywhere in the country.

In general, it is still possible for civilians to move to larger cities. However, the number of people displaced from other regions and returnees – including from Iran – has increased there. The arrival of the displaced in cities and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic have reportedly led to a higher cost of living there.

However, whether an Afghan is threatened in his or her home country can only be assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account religious denomination, ethnic origin and other individual aspects.

The report, which among other things serves the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees as an aid in making decisions in asylum procedures and in deportation matters, is updated regularly.

The current version, however, reflects the status from May – that is, shortly before the withdrawal of foreign troops.

This is criticized by the opposition Greens, who demand a general stop on deportations to Afghanistan.

Since the report does not reflect the current developments surrounding the withdrawal of the Bundeswehr and international troops, it is “completely useless for assessing the situation,” explained members of the Green parliamentary group.

With the beginning of the NATO withdrawal in May, the militant Islamist Taliban launched several offensives and extended their control over further areas in Afghanistan.

Tens of thousands of people have fled fighting inside the country. However, the number of people fleeing to neighbouring countries or Turkey, for example as a stopover to Europe, is also increasing.