Germany resumes deportations to Afghanistan
The German government has deported people to Afghanistan for the first time since the Taliban seized power in 2021. As reported by the news agency dpa, a charter flight departed from Leipzig/Halle Airport for the country on Friday.
There were several Afghan nationals on board the aircraft. According to the authorities, the individuals in question are convicted criminals who have no right to remain in Germany. The German government had halted deportations to Afghanistan for security reasons following the withdrawal of international troops and the return of the Taliban.
The decision to resume deportations follows a lengthy political debate in Germany. Following serious crimes, such as the fatal knife attack in Mannheim in May, politicians called for a tougher line on the deportation of criminals. The German government therefore conducted secret negotiations over the past few months to enable returns despite the difficult diplomatic situation.
Germany worked closely with third countries to organize the flights, as there are no direct diplomatic relations with the Taliban government in Kabul. The German government emphasized that the safety of the officials involved and compliance with legal standards are the top priority for these flights.
The resumption of these deportations marks a clear shift in German migration policy. It remains to be seen how diplomatic relations will develop and whether further charter flights of this kind will follow in the future.