The German Green Party has accused the federal government of tacitly recognizing the Taliban, an internationally condemned group, through the resumption of deportation flights to Afghanistan. Omid Nouripour, Vice-President of the Bundestag and a Green Party representative, voiced concerns that the government’s recent arrangements with Kabul constitute a step towards normalizing the rule of a terrorist regime, according to a report in “Der Spiegel”.
In a written response to Nouripour, the Foreign Office confirmed that a recent repatriation flight from Leipzig to Kabul was facilitated primarily through the mediation of the Emirate of Qatar. However, the response also acknowledged that the German government maintains contact with representatives of the “de facto” government in Afghanistan on a technical level.
To enable future deportation flights, Berlin has reportedly agreed to allow two consular officials authorized by the Taliban to be stationed in Berlin and Bonn. Their role would be to issue necessary passports for additional repatriations. Following the deportation of 81 Afghan citizens at the end of July, sources within government circles indicated that the new administration is pursuing pragmatic approaches to advance German interests. The Green Party’s criticism centers on the potential for these interactions to inadvertently lend legitimacy to the Taliban’s rule.
