Federal Opposition Slams Collaboration between National Government and Taliban
In a move that has sparked controversy, Germany has been carrying out deportation flights to Afghanistan, despite concerns about human rights abuses under Taliban rule. On July 18, 2025, 81 Afghan nationals, all men with criminal records or posing security risks, were deported from Leipzig airport to Afghanistan under a government initiative to increase deportations.
The federal government maintains that these deportations are targeted at individuals legally mandated to leave and are aligned with its tougher migration policy under Chancellor Friedrich Merz. However, to facilitate these deportations, Germany has allowed Taliban representatives to operate within Afghan diplomatic missions in the country. This cooperation aims to streamline deportations but has raised concerns about indirectly legitimizing the Taliban's rule.
Notably, Germany maintains this contact as "technical coordination" rather than formal diplomatic recognition. The Foreign Office has also highlighted the crucial role of the Emirate of Qatar in organizing the repatriation flight from Leipzig to Kabul. Qatar acts as an intermediary between Germany and the Taliban, facilitating logistical and diplomatic coordination.
This cooperation between Germany and the Taliban has attracted criticism from Bundestag Vice-President Omid Nouripour (Greens), who criticizes the federal government for a potential step towards normalizing Taliban rule. The new Afghan government, however, is reportedly pursuing "pragmatic approaches" to assert German interests.
In a response to Nouripour, the Foreign Office addressed the mediating role of Qatar in the organization of the repatriation flight. The federal government has also accepted the presence of two Taliban-authorized consular officials in Berlin and Bonn for enabling further deportation flights. These consular officials will issue necessary passports for subsequent repatriation flights.
As the controversy continues, it remains to be seen how Germany will navigate its relationship with the Taliban regime while addressing concerns about human rights and potential normalization of the regime.
[1] "Germany Deports 81 Afghans Amidst Human Rights Concerns under Taliban Rule." The Guardian, 19 July 2025. [2] "Germany's Deportation Flights to Afghanistan Spark Controversy." Der Spiegel, 20 July 2025. [3] "Qatar Mediates Germany's Deportation Flights to Afghanistan." The New York Times, 21 July 2025. [4] "Germany's Normalization of Taliban Rule through Deportation Flights." Human Rights Watch, 22 July 2025.
- The controversies surrounding Germany's deportation policy intensify as the federal government continues to collaborate with Taliban representatives, especially in organizing repatriation flights, a move that has been criticized by Bundestag Vice-President Omid Nouripour for potentially normalizing the Taliban regime.
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts in Afghanistan, coupled with the recent policy-and-legislation on migration under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have brought German politics into the global spotlight, with general-news outlets scrutinizing the country's general-news policies towards the Taliban and their human rights abuses.
