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Netherlands mulls deal with Uzbekistan on deporting failed Afghan asylum seekers
Uzbekistan recently agreed to accept rejected Afghan migrants from Germany in return for migrant worker exchange program
The Netherlands is deciding whether it can persuade Uzbekistan to accept Afghan migrants who have had their asylum applications rejected.
Germany recently agreed with Uzbekistan that it could send rejected Afghan asylum seekers to the neighboring country.
“At the moment, the Cabinet is examining the extent to which agreements can be made with Uzbekistan,” said Asylum Minister Marjolein Faber on Wednesday.
Faber did not elaborate nor would she say when more details would be available.
These are “sometimes very early discussions, only explorations”, and these do not benefit from openness, Faber said.
Asylum seekers who have exhausted all legal remedies, especially criminals, are often not welcome in their countries of origin, the Netherlands and other European countries have been looking for ways to send them back for years.
Germany meanwhile hopes to send them back via Uzbekistan. The two countries agreed on this last month, in return for the admission of Uzbek migrant workers and development aid, among other things.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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