German Commission Deems Afghanistan Mission a Strategic Failure

A Bundestag commission has issued 72 recommendations to improve crisis management following a critical review of Germany's 20-year involvement in Afghanistan.

• The Bundestag's Enquete Commission concluded that Germany's Afghanistan mission from 2001 to 2021 was a strategic failure, citing unrealistic goals and ineffective crisis management.
• The commission highlighted the need for future missions to have clear, realistic, and measurable objectives, along with well-defined exit strategies.
• Despite some progress in education and infrastructure, the report criticized the mission's inability to secure lasting results or adapt to changing conditions on the ground.
• The report includes 72 recommendations, such as improved coordination between military, police, and diplomatic efforts, as well as enhanced communication with the Bundestag and the public.
• The commission emphasized the importance of early crisis detection, stronger inter-agency collaboration, and more robust knowledge sharing between policymakers, academics, and practitioners.

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