Germany has resumed deportations of convicted Afghans but now demands direct talks with the Taliban, despite not recognizing them as a legitimate government. Alexander Dobrindt from Bavaria’s CSU party stated the goal is to reach direct agreements with Afghanistan to facilitate repatriation. This move follows Germany’s suspension of deportations last August after the Taliban took power. Besides Afghans, Germany is also negotiating with Syria about deporting Syrian nationals, who form the second-largest group of asylum seekers in Germany. Syrians and Afghans together have filed over 100,000 asylum requests in Germany — 76,000 Syrians and 34,000 Afghans. This issue was a key topic in Germany’s parliamentary elections, where right-wing radicals exploited migration fears to gain support. The ruling CDU/CSU party promised tougher measures, including halting refugee intake programs and family reunifications. Austria holds a similar stance, recently carrying out its first deportation of a Syrian back to Damascus, sparking human rights concerns over how the new regime will treat returnees. European countries, including Germany and Austria, are trying to strike deals with new authorities in Syria and Afghanistan, but this raises controversy and safety questions for deportees. This policy of deportations and negotiations with regimes many do not recognize as legitimate raises ethical, security, and future migration policy questions. Is this the start of a new era of strict migration control or a dangerous game with human rights? Europe stands at a crossroads, and the consequences of these decisions will unfold in the coming years. What do you think about these direct talks with the Taliban and deportations? Share your thoughts — maybe you have the answer to this migration mess!
