Uzbekistan and the German government are in negotiations to find a solution for the deportation of criminals from Germany to Afghanistan. Talks have been constructive, but both sides are looking for an agreement that complies with international law.
Germany wants to avoid direct cooperation with the Taliban government in Kabul for repatriations. The Taliban reject repatriations via third countries and demand direct cooperation. The talks aim to find a solution that does not involve direct arrangements with the Taliban government. Germany’s special representative for migration agreements will travel to Uzbekistan for further discussions on the potential agreement.
Sweden has already implemented a similar agreement for Afghan criminals, with the condition that returnees must voluntarily accept the deportations to comply with international law. It is unclear how many people are eligible for possible deportation to Afghanistan from Germany. While around 13,000 Afghans living in Germany are required to leave the country, many of them are tolerated and cannot be deported.
There is no national record of the number of Afghans convicted of extremism in Germany. The recent alleged Islamist knife attack in Mannheim involving a 25-year-old Afghan has reignited the conversation about deportations to Afghanistan. The attacker is reportedly in critical condition and in an artificial coma.
Overall, the discussions between Germany and Uzbekistan aim to find a solution that facilitates the deportation of Afghan criminals while complying with international law and without direct cooperation with the Taliban government in Kabul.
