Latest News
German interior minister seeks direct migrant deportation deal with IEA
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt wants to negotiate a direct agreement with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) on receiving Afghan migrants deported from Germany, he told Focus magazine in an interview.
In August, Germany resumed flying convicted criminals of Afghan nationality to their home country, after pausing deportations following the IEA’s takeover in August 2021, with the support of what Berlin said were “key regional partners”.
Germany does not recognise the IEA government as legitimate and has no official diplomatic ties with it.
“My idea is that we make agreements directly with Afghanistan to enable repatriations,” Dobrindt said in the interview published online on Wednesday evening.
“We still need third parties to conduct talks with Afghanistan. This cannot remain a permanent solution,” added the politician from the conservative CSU, the Bavarian sister party of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU.
Merz had pledged to deport people to Afghanistan and Syria, as well as halt refugee admission programmes for German agencies’ former local staff in Afghanistan and suspend family reunification as part of the conservatives’ election platform.
Migration was a pivotal issue in February’s national elections following the rise of the far right and several high-profile attacks by migrants.
In the interview, Dobrindt said Germany was also in contact with Syria – where the government has taken power following the fall of veteran leader Bashar al-Assad last December – on reaching an agreement on deporting criminals of Syrian nationality.
Syrians and Afghans are the two largest groups of asylum seekers in Germany, with 76,765 Syrians and 34,149 Afghans applying for the status in 2024, according to federal migration office figures.
Sadin Ayyıldız, the new head of Turkey’s diplomatic mission in Kabul, met in an introductory visit with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate, to discuss the development of bilateral relations between the two countries.
During the meeting, Ayyıldız described relations between Afghanistan and Turkey as positive and emphasized the expansion of cooperation in economic and health fields, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Muttaqi also wished Ayyildiz success, described Turkey as a close friend of Afghanistan, and assessed bilateral relations as being on a path of progress.
Latest News
Afghan, Indonesian sports officials discuss expanding cooperation
Indonesian officials said the deputy minister plans to visit Afghanistan in the future to further advance cooperation.
Ahmadullah Wasiq, head of Afghanistan’s National Olympic and Physical Education Committee, met Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Taufiq Hidayat, during an official visit to Indonesia held alongside the Asian Cup competitions.
The talks focused on strengthening sports cooperation, including improving access for Afghan athletes living in Indonesia to local leagues and training camps.
Hidayat described the meeting as a positive step toward closer sporting ties and stressed the need for continued engagement.
Afghanistan’s ambassador to Indonesia, Saadullah Baloch, also attended the meeting, highlighting the role of sports diplomacy in bilateral relations. Indonesian officials said the deputy minister plans to visit Afghanistan in the future to further advance cooperation.
Latest News
UNAMA: Afghanistan ranks among highest for explosive ordnance casualties
UNAMA stressed that greater awareness and coordinated action are essential to saving lives and improving safety across Afghanistan.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has warned that Afghanistan is the world’s third most affected country in terms of casualties from explosive ordnance, with landmines and unexploded remnants of war still widespread.
UNAMA said children account for around 80 percent of victims, many of whom are injured or killed while playing near unexploded devices.
The mission reaffirmed its support for funding NGOs involved in mine clearance and community awareness, noting that these groups work daily to remove deadly remnants of conflict and educate communities about the risks.
UNAMA stressed that greater awareness and coordinated action are essential to saving lives and improving safety across Afghanistan.
Japan trumps Afghanistan 6-0 in AFC Futsal Asian Cup quarter-final
FM Muttaqi and Turkish envoy discuss strengthening Kabul-Ankara ties
Afghan, Indonesian sports officials discuss expanding cooperation
UNAMA: Afghanistan ranks among highest for explosive ordnance casualties
Russia denies mediating Pakistan’s ties with India and Afghanistan
Turkey withdraws from Afghanistan-Pakistan mediation amid rising tensions
ICG report says Pakistan most impacted by IEA’s return in Afghanistan
Pakistan approves re-export of stranded Afghan transit trade cargo
Afghanistan–China joint market opens in Kabul
ATN secures broadcast rights to Carabao Cup semis across Afghanistan
Tahawol: Afghanistan’s bid to engage with SCO
Saar: Afghanistan and Iran’s expanding ties discussed
Tahawol: Tense regional situation over Iran discussed
Saar: Pakistan’s allegations of India backing Balochistan attacks
Tahawol: BLA’s coordinated attacks in Balochistan discussed
-
Sport2 days agoAFC Futsal Asian Cup: Afghanistan to face Iran in crucial Group D clash
-
Sport4 days agoAfghanistan dominates Malaysia 7–0 in AFC Futsal Asian Cup
-
Sport3 days agoT20 World Cup 2026: Afghanistan national cricket team arrives in India
-
Business3 days agoPakistan, China plan to extend CPEC to Afghanistan, revive trilateral framework
-
Sport1 day agoAFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026: Final eight confirmed
-
Latest News3 days agoAfghanistan granted 30,000 Hajj quota for 2026
-
Sport4 days agoAfghanistan roar into U19 World Cup 2026 semis after defeating Ireland
-
Tahawol5 days agoTahawol: Defense Ministry’s high-level visit to Russia discussed