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Austria carries out first deportation to Afghanistan since IEA takeover
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner confirmed the deportation and said more are planned.
Austria has deported a convicted criminal to Afghanistan for the first time since the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) returned to power in 2021, signaling a tougher approach to its deportation policy.
On Saturday morning, a 31-year-old Afghan man was flown from Austria to Kabul via Istanbul, accompanied by Austrian police officers. He had been convicted of rape and grievous bodily harm and had served four years in prison.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner confirmed the deportation and said more are planned.
“We announced the deportation of convicted criminals to Afghanistan, and now we are implementing it,” Karner said. “We will continue to pursue this tough but necessary course. Further deportations of convicted criminals to Afghanistan are currently being prepared.”
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker also stressed the government’s strict stance, stating that individuals who commit serious crimes forfeit their right to asylum and will face “zero tolerance.”
To enable the deportation, an Austrian delegation held talks with IEA officials in Afghanistan earlier this year. In September, a delegation from the Islamic Emirate traveled to Vienna to coordinate the deportation process. Media reports suggest that around 30 individuals are currently on the list for deportation to Afghanistan.
Austria has recently resumed deportations to several countries after long suspensions. In July, a criminal was deported to Syria — the first such case from any EU member state since the Assad regime’s fall. On September 2, Austria deported two convicted drug offenders to Somalia, marking the first deportation to that country in two decades.
Despite this tougher deportation policy, Austria continues to see high numbers of asylum applications. Between January and September 2025, over 13,000 asylum claims were registered, including more than 4,200 from Afghan nationals.
The policy shift has also drawn criticism. Gernot Darmann, a member of parliament and security spokesperson for the opposition Freedom Party (FPÖ), accused the government of posturing without real impact.
“Stocker’s announcements about making deportations to Syria and Afghanistan standard practice have had no effect on immigration levels. Karner is only deporting in dribs and drabs. It’s all show politics — nothing more than hot air,” Darmann said.
The Austrian government’s approach is already facing legal obstacles. A planned deportation of a Syrian national was postponed for several weeks after intervention from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
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Haqqani attends graduation ceremony of over 400 students in Ghazni
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior Affairs says Sirajuddin Haqqani attended a graduation ceremony for more than 400 students of Noor-ul-Madaris Madrasa in Ghazni province.
The ministry said graduates from various departments of the madrasa received their graduation certificates at the ceremony.
According to the ministry, Haqqani highlighted the importance of education, good conduct and personal reform, while praising the contributions of religious scholars and clerics to the country’s academic and jihad-related efforts, as well as its reconstruction.
He also called on people to follow the teachings and example of religious scholars and predecessors and uphold their moral values and good conduct.
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India makes visas mandatory for Afghan Hindus and Sikhs to continue their stay
India has made it mandatory for Afghan Hindus and Sikhs who entered the country without valid travel documents to obtain visas to continue their stay.
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs amended the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, through a notification issued on Wednesday, The Hindu reported.
Under the amendment, Afghan Hindus and Sikhs who entered India on or before December 31, 2024, must obtain an appropriate category of visa to remain in the country.
The provision applies to those who entered India without valid travel documents or whose documents have since expired after seeking shelter due to religious persecution or fear of persecution.
The amendment retains an earlier exemption introduced on September 2, 2025, which allowed members of six non-Muslim communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh to enter India without valid passports or visas. However, the latest notification requires them to obtain an appropriate visa after entering the country to continue their stay.
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Afghanistan has potential to generate 220 GW of solar power: UNDP
Afghanistan has the potential to generate up to 220 gigawatts of electricity from solar energy, yet it spends more than $280 million annually on electricity imports, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) says.
In a post on social media platform X on Thursday, UNDP said tapping into the country’s solar energy potential could reduce its reliance on imported electricity and expand public access to clean and sustainable energy.
According to the agency, more than 80 percent of Afghanistan’s electricity needs are currently met through imports, despite the country’s estimated solar power generation potential of up to 220 gigawatts.
Afghanistan imports most of its electricity from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran. Despite having considerable solar, wind and hydropower resources, the country has remained heavily dependent on foreign electricity supplies.
UNDP said that since 2021, its projects have helped more than 5.5 million people in Afghanistan gain access to clean energy.
The agency stressed the need for greater investment and cooperation among relevant institutions to harness Afghanistan’s solar energy potential and expand sustainable domestic electricity generation.
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