France has begun talks with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to facilitate the deportation of Afghan nationals from France, a diplomatic source told AFP on Wednesday.

The discussions mark a significant development as Paris has maintained no diplomatic relations with the IEA since it returned to power in August 2021. France’s embassy in Kabul also remains closed.

The diplomatic source said France, like a number of other European countries, has initiated a “technical dialogue” with the IEA to facilitate the direct removal of Afghan nationals living in France without legal status who are considered a threat to public order.

France is among about 20 European Union countries, including Germany, Belgium and Sweden, seeking to accelerate the return of Afghan nationals, particularly those convicted of crimes.

The source did not provide an estimate of the number of people who could be deported. However, another source familiar with the matter told AFP that the number could be “hundreds.”

France’s Foreign Ministry did not respond to questions about whether IEA representatives could travel to France as part of efforts to speed up deportation procedures.

The diplomatic source stressed that the talks did not represent a change in France’s broader position on Afghanistan.

“This technical dialogue does not call our position on Afghanistan into question,” the source said, adding that France would continue to support the Afghan population, particularly Afghan women.

The IEA, which is not formally recognised by the European Union, has sought greater international engagement and recognition since returning to power.

A June meeting between IEA officials and EU lawmakers drew criticism from human rights organisations and left-wing groups in the European Parliament.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met on Wednesday with Mohammad Reza Bahrami, a representative of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the sidelines of the eighth meeting of the Moscow Format and discussed ways to expand bilateral relations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two sides exchanged views on Afghanistan-Iran relations, regional developments, and ways to strengthen mutual cooperation between the two countries.

Muttaqi expressed appreciation for Iran’s engagement with Afghanistan and its constructive participation in regional meetings, emphasizing the need to further expand relations between Kabul and Tehran.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Reza Bahrami stressed the importance of relations between the two countries and shared Iran’s views on regional cooperation, stability, and expanding economic engagement between Afghanistan and Iran.

The UK Ministry of Defence identified material suggesting that British service personnel may have committed “serious offences” in Afghanistan, including possible murder, manslaughter and grievous bodily harm, a High Court hearing in London was told.

The information was referred by UK Special Forces (UKSF) to the Defence Serious Crime Command earlier this year, The Independent reported.

According to the court, any criminal investigation into the allegations has been paused pending the outcome of the Afghanistan Inquiry.

The inquiry, chaired by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, is examining allegations that UK special forces unlawfully killed people during operations in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013, as well as claims of a subsequent cover-up.

It is also investigating allegations of inadequate investigations by the Royal Military Police.

The latest court proceedings relate to a senior British soldier, identified only as Witness IIA126, who is challenging the inquiry’s decision to restrict his and his lawyers’ access to certain evidence.

His lawyer, Kate Grange KC, argued that the restrictions had prevented the soldier from reviewing evidence concerning an allegation that a person was shot in the head while possibly asleep during a “deliberate detention operation.”

The inquiry is opposing the legal challenge, arguing that the restrictions were necessary to protect the identities of witnesses whose evidence was considered highly sensitive.

Jonathan Glasson KC, representing the inquiry, told the court that the discovery of material potentially indicating serious offences did not mean that any particular individual would necessarily face criminal charges.

The inquiry is expected to continue its examination of the allegations, with a written judgment on the latest legal challenge due at a later date.