Taliban Diplomats Visit Switzerland To Arrange Return Of Convicted Afghans
Four Taliban diplomats have travelled to Switzerland to help identify Afghan nationals convicted of crimes, in a move Swiss officials described as sensitive but necessary.
Four Taliban diplomats have travelled to Switzerland to help identify Afghan nationals convicted of crimes, in a move Swiss officials described as sensitive but necessary.
Swiss state broadcaster SRF reported that the delegation arrived in Geneva several days ago for a two-day mission, during which they identified 11 convicted individuals and two Afghans who had volunteered to return home.
Daniel Bach, spokesperson for the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), said the step was required to issue valid travel documents, since the Taliban only recognise papers issued by their own authorities. Documents previously provided by Afghanistan’s embassy in Bern are no longer accepted.
Bach acknowledged the process was “sensitive” because human rights are not respected in Afghanistan, but said Switzerland’s priority was protecting the public from offenders.
Officials stressed that the Taliban delegation remained inside Geneva Airport and carried out only the identification process. SEM confirmed that most cases were successfully verified, paving the way for deportations, though some required additional checks.
The move follows a policy introduced last year by Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans, under which Afghan nationals convicted of crimes must be deported after serving their sentences. By the end of 2023, five Afghan offenders had been returned. But new Taliban regulations now require Kabul-issued documents for returnees.
Germany has also allowed two Taliban consular staff to be deployed since July to facilitate deportations. Switzerland, however, has said it has no plans to permit Taliban representatives to be permanently based on its territory.
