In the debate about more consistent deportations, the government’s migration commissioner, Stamp, is open to talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Germany has a “serious interest in repatriation.”
In the discussion about more consistent deportations, the Federal Government’s Commissioner for Migration, Joachim Stamp, is bringing direct talks with the militant Islamist Taliban into play. “Non-binding exploratory talks could be an option” said the FDP politician to Welt am Sonntag (WamS). Stamp called for the possibility of a direct exchange with the Taliban in Afghanistan to be “carefully considered”. He understands the negative attitude of some foreign policy makers. “However, Germany has a serious interest in repatriation.”
Stamp has been in office since the beginning of 2023 and is expected to conclude “migration agreements” with other states that commit to accepting rejected asylum seekers. In return, Germany could offer more visas and facilitate legal immigration.
The Islamist-motivated attack in Solingen has sparked a debate in Germany about more consistent deportations. This includes repatriations within the EU, but also the deportation of criminals or threats to Syria and Afghanistan. Germany does not have diplomatic relations with the Taliban because the regime is not recognized.
Deportation flight to Afghanistan at the end of August
At the end of August, Afghan nationals were deported to Afghanistan for the first time since the Taliban seized power around three years ago. According to the German government, the 28 Afghans were convicted criminals. According to the news channel Al Jazeera, the Gulf emirate of Qatar mediated between the German government and the Taliban rulers for the deportation.
In Afghanistan, the deportees are free again, according to a high-ranking Taliban official. First, the people were checked, said Suhail Shahin, head of the Taliban political bureau in the Qatari capital Doha. They were released after their families gave written assurances that they would not commit any crimes,” the representative told the dpa news agency.
Talks with Syrian ruler Assad?
CDU leader Friedrich Merz also commented in the WamS: “I recommend that Germany enter into direct negotiations with the rulers in Afghanistan and Syria about the return of their citizens.” The federal government has “the technical contacts, the necessary knowledge and the personnel” to establish direct contacts.
According to FDP member of the Bundestag Christoph Hoffmann, the German government needs foreign policy connections to Kabul. Since Germany also provides development cooperation with Afghan authorities, establishing diplomatic contacts is a logical step. Hoffmann also spoke out in favor of talks with the regime of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad.
The SPD parliamentary group’s foreign policy spokesman, Nils Schmid, was more cautious: “We will have no choice but to hold technical talks with the Taliban regime and the regime in Damascus on individual points, such as deportations,” he told WamS.
“Parts of Syria are safe”
Ulrich Lechte, foreign policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group in the Bundestag, told the “Tagesspiegel” newspaper that he believes deportation of convicted criminals to Syria is possible under certain conditions. “Parts of Syria, such as the area around the capital Damascus, are safe for criminals and dangerous individuals who are required to leave the country,” said Lechte.
However, this does not apply to the Idlib region in the northwest of the country, which is controlled by opponents of al-Assad. When examining possible returns, it must be ensured that the criminals “are not deported to areas where they are exposed to direct danger,” he said.