France is discussing the deportation of Afghan migrants with the "Taliban"

France is discussing the issue of deporting Afghan migrants with the Taliban

According to DW, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced during a parliamentary address on November 2 that negotiations were underway.

"We are trying to achieve the possibility of returning certain Afghans who are illegally residing in the country. We are talking about technical discussions," the AFP agency quoted the minister as saying.

Nuñez emphasized that other European countries, including Germany, also maintain such contacts with the Taliban.

The main focus is on returning those convicted of crimes

France has not officially recognized the government formed after the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan in 2021. Diplomatic relations between the two sides do not exist either.

Nevertheless, according to AFP, France is among nearly 20 European Union countries advocating for accelerating the return of Afghan citizens to their homeland. Germany, Belgium, and Sweden are also among them.

These countries are primarily seeking the return of Afghan citizens convicted of committing crimes.

Nuñez stated that certain Afghans present in France "could pose a threat to public order." For this reason, he indicated that deporting them is one of the government's priorities.

The negotiations have drawn criticism from the French opposition. Léa Balage El Mariky, an MP from the Ecologist party, accused the government of initiating a process to "normalize diplomatic relations" with the Taliban.

According to the MP, the Taliban are pursuing a policy of "gender apartheid" and committing crimes against humanity. She expressed objection to normalizing relations with such a government.

In September, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for an end to the forced return of people to Afghanistan.