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Germany plans direct talks with Islamic Emirate in Kabul on deportations
Officials from the Federal Ministry of the Interior are expected to travel to Kabul in October to hold talks with Islamic Emirate representatives.
Germany is preparing to open direct negotiations with the Islamic Emirate government in Kabul next month to secure regular deportations of Afghan nationals, including convicted criminals and individuals deemed security threats, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirmed on Sunday.
“Deportations to Afghanistan must be able to take place regularly,” the CSU politician told Bild am Sonntag. “That’s why we are now negotiating directly in Kabul so that criminals and potential threats can be deported consistently in the future.”
Officials from the Federal Ministry of the Interior are expected to travel to Kabul in October to hold talks with Islamic Emirate representatives, a ministry spokesperson confirmed. The move marks a shift from earlier plans for lower-level “technical discussions” without specifying a location.
The decision is politically sensitive, as Germany does not officially recognize the Islamic Emirate, which remains internationally isolated for its human rights record, particularly its sweeping restrictions on women and girls. Critics argue that direct engagement risks legitimizing the Islamist government.
Since the Islamic Emirate took power in August 2021, deportations from Germany have been rare and conducted with Qatari assistance.
In August 2024, 28 convicted criminals were flown to Kabul and a second flight in July 2025 returned 81 men, including violent and sexual offenders, after months of secret negotiations.
The current German government faces mounting domestic pressure to deliver on campaign pledges for tougher deportation policies, not only to Afghanistan but also to Syria. Dobrindt has promised a “tough course,” making progress on the Afghanistan file a key political test.
The General Examination Authority held a ceremony in Kabul on Sunday to honor the top ten achievers of the 2026 Kankor university entrance examination, which was attended by several senior officials of the Islamic Emirate.
Speaking at the event, Abdul Baqi Haqqani, head of the General Examination Authority, said it has consistently worked to ensure a transparent examination process and uphold fairness by awarding candidates based on merit. He added that Afghanistan requires both modern and religious education systems.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, Administrative Deputy Prime Minister, said the Islamic Emirate has utilized available resources to support the development of education and higher learning. He called on students to remain committed to contributing to the country’s reconstruction and future development.
Around 117,000 candidates took part in the 2026 Kankor examination, with more than 74,000 gaining admission to higher education institutions across the country.
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OIC, Muslim World League discuss support for Afghanistan on sidelines of Islamabad conference
Senior officials from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Muslim World League (MWL) have discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and support Afghanistan amid ongoing humanitarian and development challenges.
The meeting between OIC Assistant Secretary-General Ambassador Tarig Ali Bakheet and MWL Secretary-General Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa was held on Saturday on the sidelines of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, which began on Sunday in Islamabad with the participation of delegates from 57 OIC member states.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation and agreed to launch several joint programs aimed at serving Islamic causes and broadening areas of joint work.
They also exchanged views on recent developments in Afghanistan, discussing ways to support the Afghan people in overcoming humanitarian and development challenges. Both sides emphasized the importance of coordinated Islamic and international efforts to provide necessary assistance and sustain relief and humanitarian initiatives.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Ambassador Bakheet conveyed the OIC’s appreciation for the Muslim World League’s efforts, under the leadership of Al-Issa, in promoting moderation and balance and serving the causes of the Muslim Ummah.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has expressed its condolences following the death of Qatar’s former Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who died at the age of 74, extending sympathies to the Qatari government, the family and the people of Qatar.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Islamic Emirate said it received the news of Sheikh Hamad’s death “with utmost sorrow and grief,” adding the Quranic phrase: “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return.”
The statement conveyed condolences to the Government of the State of Qatar, the family of the late Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and the “fraternal Qatari people” over the loss.
The Islamic Emirate also prayed for Allah to grant the former emir His boundless mercy, admit him to the highest level of Paradise, and bestow patience and abundant reward upon his family and loved ones.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani served as emir of Qatar from 1995 until 2013. He was widely credited with transforming Qatar into a major regional and global player through rapid modernization, economic development and an increasingly active foreign policy before voluntarily handing power to his son, the current Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in 2013.
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