The Development Minister said that they are working at pace to evacuate from Afghanistan, those local development officials and NGO workers who want to leave.

Germany has halted development aid for Afghanistan, the minister responsible said on Tuesday, after the Taliban swept back into power.

"State cooperation on development is suspended for the time being," Development Minister Gerd Mueller said in an interview with the Rheinische Post newspaper. "We are working at pace to evacuate from Afghanistan, those local development officials and NGO workers who want to leave."