Germany is nearing an agreement with the Taliban to deport Afghans after secret talks in Kabul
Reports indicate that Germany is close to finalizing an agreement to deport Afghan criminals in cooperation with the Taliban, following a series of secret meetings held in the Afghan capital, Kabul. The agreement will allow the German government to return Afghan citizens convicted of crimes to their homeland, marking the first direct cooperation of its kind between Berlin and the Islamic movement since its return to power in 2021.
According to the magazines Der Spiegel and ARD, two senior representatives of the German Ministry of the Interior visited Kabul in early October for what they described as "technical talks." Sources indicated that the meetings took place in a positive atmosphere, with the Taliban expressing readiness to accept deportees. This visit follows statements by Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, who emphasized the need for Germany to regain control over immigration issues, including the deportation of criminals to their home countries.
Although the Ministry of the Interior has not yet officially confirmed the signing of the agreement, informed sources said that the negotiations are based on a preliminary understanding reached with the Taliban last September. So far, deportations to Afghanistan have been limited and conducted through Qatari mediation, but the new agreement will allow Germany to organize deportation flights directly and regularly.
However, these discussions have sparked widespread controversy within Germany, as the German government confirms that it does not officially recognize the Taliban regime that seized power by force in August 2021. Opposition parties in the German parliament (Bundestag) have expressed concern that any agreement of this kind could legitimize the hardline regime that is internationally condemned for its serious human rights violations, particularly its repression of the rights of women and girls. Critics have warned that cooperation with the Taliban could make Germany dependent on the goodwill of the Afghan regime.
Despite the controversy, some analysts believe that the agreement could grant Germany new diplomatic leverage. Conrad Schter, director of the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC), stated that the agreement could allow the German government to pressure the Taliban to improve its human rights record. He added: "These flights could serve both parties, as the German government will show that it is taking action against criminal refugees, while the Taliban hopes this will lead to a gradual normalization of relations with the West, and possibly to international recognition of its Islamic Emirate." He also emphasized the need for the agreement to include guarantees for respecting human rights standards for the deported.
Currently, only neighboring countries such as Iran and Pakistan, along with Turkey to a lesser extent, are carrying out mass deportations of Afghans. Experts believe that if Germany completes this agreement, it may encourage other Western countries to adopt the same approach, paving the way for a gradual shift in Europe's dealings with the Taliban regime.