Denmark is cooperating with the Taliban embassy in Oslo to facilitate the deportation of 57 Afghan migrants, Danish broadcaster TV 2 Denmark reported, citing officials. The report said the contact is limited to technical coordination.
Norwegian authorities said they have played no role in facilitating the arrangement and reiterated that they have not been involved in enabling the cooperation.
Denmark’s Immigration Service said 57 Afghan nationals are facing deportation following criminal convictions and the rejection of their asylum applications. In recent months, Germany and Austria have also established contact with the Taliban to facilitate the return of Afghan migrants.
Danish authorities stressed that engagement with the Taliban does not amount to formal recognition of the group and that dialogue is confined to consular matters.
Andreas Kravik, state secretary at Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Afghan embassy in Oslo also represents Denmark and Iceland. He said Norway does not play a decisive role in the bilateral relations between those countries and the Afghan embassy.
Kravik did not rule out the possibility that Oslo could deport Afghan asylum seekers, saying any such decision would have to be reviewed by Norway’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
He added that Norwegian immigration authorities assess the human rights situation in Afghanistan and adhere to the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning asylum seekers to countries deemed unsafe.
