The German government has reached an agreement with the Taliban regime to accelerate the deportation of convicted Afghan criminals, according to German newspaper Bild. The arrangement, reached through “technical-level” negotiations because Berlin does not recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate government, will allow Germany to organize up to three charter deportation flights each month and carry out an unlimited number of individual deportations on regular flights.
Germany’s Interior Ministry, led by Bavarian Christian Democrat Alexander Dobrindt, intends to establish what it describes as a permanent “deportation air bridge” to Afghanistan. Dobrindt said convicted criminals who abuse Germany’s protection system and commit serious crimes must find a future in their country of origin.
“Our society has a legitimate interest in criminals leaving our country,” Dobrindt told Bild, adding that this approach would be applied consistently. According to the newspaper, around 100 convicted Afghan nationals currently in Germany are awaiting deportation.
So far this year, Germany has expelled 77 Afghan nationals through three charter flights. These returns have faced criticism from human rights organizations, which warn that deported individuals could face mistreatment by the Taliban after arriving in Afghanistan.
Opponents of the deportations have also criticized the policy because they argue that agreements with the Taliban risk providing recognition and legitimacy to the country’s de facto rulers in exchange for accepting deported migrants. Germany, like other European countries, does not formally recognize the Taliban government, which took power in Afghanistan in 2021.
The agreement comes as European institutions are also exploring ways to increase deportations of Afghan migrants. The European Union has invited a Taliban delegation to Brussels to discuss possible arrangements for speeding up returns, despite not recognizing the Taliban authorities. The delegation, led by Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi, is expected to meet European Commission officials, representatives from the European External Action Service and officials from some EU member states, including Sweden, which is helping coordinate contacts.
The European Commission has described previous discussions between Taliban representatives and European officials as technical meetings. The initiative followed a request from around 20 countries seeking ways to increase returns to Afghanistan. Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland were among the countries supporting the request, while Spain did not sign the letter.
The moves have drawn criticism from human rights groups and political opponents. Amnesty International said efforts by the EU and its member states to forcibly return people to Afghanistan ignore the reasons they fled and the dangers they could face after being sent back. The organization argued that such deportations could violate international obligations, including the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning people to places where they face serious risks.
Migration rights groups have also warned that European governments are placing greater emphasis on deportation policies and externalizing border controls while reducing legal protections. The Council of Europe has raised concerns about prolonged detention, restrictions on appeal rights and deportations to unsafe countries.
Afghanistan presents particular concerns because deportations could include women and girls, who face severe restrictions under Taliban rule. These restrictions include limits on access to education, employment and freedom of movement without a male relative. The United Nations has described the situation facing women and girls in Afghanistan as a form of “gender apartheid.”
The German agreement marks a new stage in European efforts to increase returns of Afghan nationals while continuing to face opposition from organizations that warn about security risks and human rights concerns under Taliban rule.
