Germany is dramatically expanding efforts to deport Afghan nationals, including people without criminal records, while quietly increasing direct coordination with the Taliban regime to establish a regular system for returning migrants to Afghanistan.

The shift represents a significant change from Germany’s previous policy, under which deportation flights to Afghanistan were largely limited to convicted criminals and individuals considered security threats.

According to an investigation by German broadcaster NDR, three Taliban representatives traveled secretly to Germany last week to help prepare the logistics for expanded deportation flights.

The delegation reportedly traveled from Kabul through Qatar, where German consular officials issued the Taliban representatives 30-day visas allowing them to enter Germany.

Germany’s Foreign Office confirmed that the delegation had arrived in the country.

More than 250 Afghans have been deported from Germany over the past two years. The latest flight, on July 28, returned 31 Afghan nationals to Kabul.

Among those deported was one person without a criminal record, marking the first such removal since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 2021.

Berlin is now looking to significantly increase the pace of removals, with plans reportedly calling for as many as three group deportation flights each month in addition to Afghans being returned on regular commercial flights.

The cooperation comes despite Germany not formally recognizing the Taliban government.

Approximately 450,000 Afghan citizens were living in Germany as of April 2026, including roughly 403,000 who were born outside Germany.

Germany is not alone in reopening channels with the Taliban over migration. In June, the European Union hosted Taliban representatives in Brussels for closed-door discussions focused on returning Afghan nationals whose asylum claims had been rejected.

Representatives from 15 European Union countries participated in those talks, which were led by Sweden and the European Commission.

The growing contacts underscore a broader shift across Europe as governments seek ways to increase deportations to Afghanistan despite continuing concerns over the Taliban’s rule and human rights abuses.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)