‘Shameful’ for West

Germany's president yesterday criticised Western powers over chaotic scenes at Kabul airport where thousands of Afghans gathered in a bid to flee the country after the Taliban swept back to power. "The images of desperation at Kabul airport are shameful for the political West," Frank-Walter Steinmeier said, calling the situation in Afghanistan a "human tragedy for which we share responsibility". Germany is duty-bound to "do everything it can to bring our people, and all Afghans who stood for years by their side, to safety", said Steinmeier, who was previously foreign minister. "The failure of the years-long efforts to build a stable and viable society in Afghanistan raises fundamental questions for the past and future of our foreign policy and military engagement," he said.