Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has made her most significant comments to date about the situation in Afghanistan while speaking before the German parliament on Wednesday.

She said that she misjudged how the withdrawal of international armed forces would play out. "All of us who were involved in Afghanistan – in other words, the entire international coalition – we all underestimated the speed of developments. This includes Germany," Merkel said.

READ MORE:

Breaking: Explosion at Kabul airport

The Taliban is 'the people's choice' claims group

The spoon revolutionizing meals in space

Merkel told lawmakers that she expected the Afghan security forces and former political leaders to resist the Taliban rather than stand down and flee the country. "Once Afghanistan's political leadership fled the country, things sped up even more," she added.

The Chancellor has previously suggested that the pullout of troops did not come at the right time. She insisted that allied forces are closely working together, but under U.S. leadership – although the comments were made before news of a suspected suicide explosion near Kabul airport.

With the U.S. standing firm on its August 31 departure date, Germany is making final arrangements to pull out its military presence.

Merkel did not announce a formal end date for evacuation flights but said it would "come in a few days." German media has reported that it will happen on Friday. 

To date, the German military has evacuated 4,600 people, but officials said around 300 German citizens are still in Kabul seeking a way out.