Senior officials from Germany’s Interior Ministry plan to travel to Kabul in October for talks with the Taliban over deporting Afghan refugees, German daily Bild reported Saturday.
The visit would mark a significant step, as Germany has had no formal diplomatic relations with the Taliban since the group seized power in August 2021. Germany closed its embassy in Kabul following the collapse of the former Afghan government.
According to Bild, the delegation is expected to discuss carrying out deportations of Afghan migrants convicted of crimes using commercial flights rather than chartered planes. A ministry spokesperson confirmed the planned trip but declined to provide details on who would take part.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has pressed for the return of Afghan nationals convicted of crimes. In the past, Germany deported dozens of Afghans to Kabul with Qatari mediation, while allowing two Taliban representatives to visit Berlin in exchange. It remains unclear what concessions the Taliban may demand in return for a potential new agreement.
The push has sparked heavy criticism from opposition parties. The Greens condemned the talks, with domestic policy spokesman Marcel Emmerich accusing the government of “fawning over a terrorist group” and breaking a diplomatic taboo. He said the Taliban “tortures, stones, suppresses women and tramples human rights,” and warned that opening dialogue with the group undermines Germany’s values.
Dobrindt has countered that the previous German government also held talks with the Taliban on deportations.
Plans to Resume Deportations to Syria
The interior minister also intends to restart deportations to Syria by the end of the year. He said an agreement with Damascus is expected that would initially allow the return of convicted criminals, followed later by individuals without residence rights.
Dobrindt argued that Germany must distinguish between Syrian migrants who are integrated and working and those receiving social benefits without valid asylum claims. He has instructed the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees to resume processing certain pending asylum cases so that rejected applicants can be deported.
