The Social Democratic Party (SPD) has cautioned against normalizing relations with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in the pursuit of increased deportations. Sonja Eichwede, Deputy Leader of the SPD parliamentary group, told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland that while “potential channels of communication” are necessary to facilitate deportations, this should not lead to the normalization of contact with the Taliban. She emphasized the need for a “very sensitive approach”. Eichwede reaffirmed the coalition agreement’s commitment to repatriating individuals to Afghanistan, primarily focusing on criminals and security risks.
However, the stance is not universally shared. Hessian Minister President Boris Rhein (CDU) has voiced support for a more assertive approach, stating to Focus that those who disregard German law must leave the country. Rhein asserted that Germany needs to establish more return agreements, even with challenging partners like the Taliban. He commended Alexander Dobrindt’s willingness to engage in direct talks with the Taliban to expedite the repatriation of criminals, framing it as a crucial element for greater order in migration policy.
The differing viewpoints highlight a debate within Germany regarding the strategy for managing deportations from Afghanistan and the implications of engaging with the Taliban government.
