German Chancellor Merz Criticizes US Regime Change in Afghanistan as Failure

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated in a television interview that the United States' regime change efforts in Afghanistan failed after 20 years, merely replacing one mullah-led government with another.

Merz made the comments in response to a question about regime change in Iran. He said the US lacks a successful strategy for such operations, citing failures in most cases including Afghanistan, with only the intervention in Panama decades ago as an exception.

The chancellor noted that the US withdrawal from Afghanistan after two decades drew strong criticisms domestically and internationally. Following the pullout, the Afghan Republic, its army and government structures collapsed, enabling the Taliban to regain control.

The Taliban have reimposed and intensified repressive policies akin to those during their previous rule. Girls and women face bans on education beyond the sixth grade and access to universities. They are also prohibited from parks, baths, beauty salons and travel without a male guardian, known as a mahram. Restrictions extend to citizens' rights, including those of men.