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Nineteen EU countries and Norway call for return of Afghans living illegally in Europe

The countries urged the European Commission to place the return of Afghans at the top of its migration agenda and to begin discussions with the IEA administration on establishing a formal return agreement.

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Nineteen European Union member states and Norway have urged the European Commission to take immediate steps to repatriate Afghan nationals residing illegally in Europe, either through voluntary return programs or forced deportations — a move that could include negotiating directly with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) authorities in Kabul.

The joint appeal, led by Belgium’s Minister for Asylum and Migration, Anneleen Van Bossuyt, was detailed in a letter addressed to Magnus Brunner, the EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration. Van Bossuyt confirmed the initiative on Saturday, saying the inability to deport Afghans — including those convicted of crimes — poses “a threat to public safety” and “undermines trust in the EU’s asylum system.”

The letter was signed by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, and Norway.

The countries urged the European Commission to place the return of Afghans at the top of its migration agenda and to begin discussions with the IEA administration on establishing a formal return agreement.

Van Bossuyt proposed that Frontex, the EU’s border and coast guard agency, take on a stronger role in coordinating voluntary returns through the EU Reintegration Programme. For forced returns, the ministers suggested prioritising individuals considered dangerous or criminal, potentially through a joint repatriation mission involving the European Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS), and willing member states.

Since the IEA takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, European countries have lacked any formal return mechanism, as the EU does not recognize the IEA as the legitimate government. The absence of a repatriation framework has led to growing political pressure within the bloc, particularly among governments facing public concern over migration and security.

Germany, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative government, has already taken steps toward limited cooperation with the IEA on deportations. In July, Berlin conducted a flight returning 81 Afghan nationals, the first such operation since 2021. Merz’s government has signaled hopes that other EU states will follow suit.

However, the move drew criticism from the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), which maintains a “non-return advisory” for Afghanistan.

UN human rights officials have also voiced concern. Arafat Jamal, a representative of the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), said his team continues to document “ongoing human rights violations” in Afghanistan, including restrictions on women’s rights, arbitrary detentions, and targeted attacks.

Despite the humanitarian warnings, several European governments argue that establishing a structured return mechanism is necessary to uphold the credibility of Europe’s migration policies and ensure that those denied asylum can be lawfully repatriated.

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Afghanistan publishes 20 new laws and dozens of legal documents over five years

The documents include 20 laws, 77 decrees, 30 orders, eight guidelines, six procedures, three codes, two charters, one regulation, one directive and one legal framework.

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The Progress website, affiliated with the Government Media Centre, has reported that Afghanistan’s Ministry of Justice has published 20 laws and dozens of other legislative documents in 31 issues of the Official Gazette since the Islamic Emirate returned to power.

According to the published figures, the documents include 20 laws, 77 decrees, 30 orders, eight guidelines, six procedures, three codes, two charters, one regulation, one directive and one legal framework.

Among the laws published over the past five years are legislation on preventing land grabbing, hearing complaints, the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice, money changers and monetary services, as well as preventing the smuggling of food products and medicines.

The report highlights the Ministry of Justice’s legislative activities and the publication of legal documents through Afghanistan’s Official Gazette during the past five years.

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UN pledges to expand cooperation with Afghanistan as over 8 million migrants return home

Rabab said the United Nations intends to expand its cooperation with Afghanistan in several areas, alongside coordinating humanitarian assistance.

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Abdul Salam Hanafi, Administrative Deputy Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, has met with Rabab Fatima, the newly appointed Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan, and her accompanying delegation to discuss humanitarian assistance, economic development and the challenges facing returning Afghan migrants.

During the meeting, Rabbah expressed her satisfaction at having the opportunity to serve the people of Afghanistan. She also spoke positively about development projects carried out in the country by the Islamic Emirate and expressed hope that efforts to promote economic growth and reconstruction would continue.

Rabab said the United Nations intends to expand its cooperation with Afghanistan in several areas, alongside coordinating humanitarian assistance. These include providing alternative livelihood opportunities for farmers, creating employment opportunities and expanding assistance to returning migrants.

She also praised the Islamic Emirate’s efforts to address the challenges facing returning Afghan migrants, describing the management of their return as one of Afghanistan’s major challenges.

For his part, Hanafi said more than eight million Afghan migrants have returned to the country, adding that the Islamic Emirate would use all available resources to support them and address their needs.

He further called on relevant institutions to strengthen efforts to protect the rights of returnees, create employment opportunities and provide adequate shelter.

The meeting comes amid ongoing humanitarian and economic challenges in Afghanistan, with support for returning migrants and expanded international cooperation remaining key priorities.

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Unexploded ordnance contaminates 901 square kms of land in Afghanistan

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Around 901 square kilometres of land across Afghanistan is contaminated with unexploded ordnance, posing a continuing threat to civilians, particularly children, Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority said.

Mohammad Yousuf Hammad, spokesperson for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, made the remarks in an interview with Afghanistan’s state-controlled national broadcaster.

Hammad said explosions involving landmines and unexploded remnants of war continue to kill and injure large numbers of Afghans every year.

He added that, with financial support from the United Nations Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan, more than 73,000 square metres of contaminated land had been cleared in Kunduz and Baghlan provinces by December 2025.

According to available figures, approximately 1,026 people were killed or injured in Afghanistan in landmine and unexploded ordnance explosions in 2021.

Decades of conflict have left large quantities of explosive remnants of war scattered across the country, creating persistent dangers for civilians.

Children remain particularly vulnerable, as unexploded devices can be mistaken for ordinary objects or encountered while playing and travelling through affected areas.

The reported contamination highlights the continuing need for mine-clearance operations, humanitarian assistance and public awareness programmes to protect communities and prevent further civilian casualties.

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