Germany may soon make a deal with the Taliban government in Afghanistan to start regular deportation flights, according to Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt.
In an interview with The Pioneer news site, Dobrindt said that talks with the Taliban were “very advanced” and that an agreement could happen soon. He added that Germany plans to deport people not only through charter flights but also by commercial flights.
Background
Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who took office in May, has promised to speed up the deportation of Afghan asylum seekers who have been convicted of crimes in Germany.
However, these deportations are controversial, as Germany does not officially recognize the Taliban government in Kabul.
Previous Deportations
Since 2021, Germany has made only two deportation flights for convicted Afghans:
81 people were sent back in July 2025
28 people were deported last year
These flights were organized by Qatar, which acted as a mediator between Germany and the Taliban.
Ongoing Talks
Last month, Germany’s Interior Ministry confirmed that it was holding direct talks with Taliban officials.
According to Dobrindt, ministry staff had technical discussions in Kabul last weekend to plan future deportations.
He said he would “do everything to make it work”, even if it means visiting Kabul himself. He also mentioned wanting to start similar talks with Syria, where deportations are currently frozen.
Political Context
Chancellor Merz’s government is focusing on a tougher immigration policy to counter the rise of far-right parties, which are gaining popularity in recent polls.
German media, including ARD and Der Spiegel, reported that government representatives recently visited Kabul and that the discussions went positively from the Afghan side. Der Spiegel also said that the Interior Ministry is close to finalizing the deportation deal, based on an agreement reached last month.
Controversy and Criticism
These talks have faced strong criticism because Germany does not have official diplomatic relations with the Taliban, who took power in August 2021 after a violent takeover.
Opposition parties in Germany’s Bundestag say that working with the Taliban could make Germany dependent on a radical regime known for human rights abuses, especially against women.
If the new deal goes forward, deportation flights could happen more often and without Qatar’s help, marking a big change in Germany’s policy toward Afghanistan.