German lawmakers are currently engaged in discussions with Uzbekistan regarding a potential agreement to deport Afghan nationals back to Kabul via a stopover in Tashkent, according to an exclusive report published by the German magazine Spiegel.
The discussions have gained prominence following an incident on May 31, where an Afghan man allegedly fatally stabbed a police officer in Mannheim, Germany, sparking debates over the deportation of Afghan criminal offenders without negotiations with the Taliban. Germany has maintained a ban on deportations to Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in August 2021.
Spiegel‘s report, published on June 16, reveals that a delegation from Germany’s interior ministry visited Tashkent in late May to explore the possibility of facilitating deportations through Uzbekistan. The proposal involves transporting Afghans to Tashkent, from where they would fly to Kabul via KamAir airline. The interior ministry has not officially commented on the report.
Before finalizing any deportation agreements, Uzbekistan seeks to establish a migration agreement with Germany, focusing on regulating the entry of Uzbek skilled workers into Germany. The German special representative for migration agreements is expected to visit Uzbekistan in the coming week, following a Conference of Interior Ministers meeting in Potsdam, Germany, where asylum policy will be a key topic.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other politicians have advocated for negotiations with the Taliban to facilitate the deportation of Afghan individuals convicted of crimes in Germany. Scholz emphasized the need to deport offenders, irrespective of their origin, asserting that criminals and terrorist threats should not find refuge in Germany.
The legal framework surrounding deportations to specific countries, including Syria and Afghanistan, is subject to rulings by German courts and oversight by the federal office for migration and refugees.