Belgium last week engaged in discussions with the Islamic Emirate authorities regarding the return of Afghan nationals living in Europe without legal documents or with criminal records, according to a report by Het Laatste Nieuws.

Freddy Roosemont, head of Belgium’s Immigration Office, visited Kabul as part of a delegation representing 20 European Union member states for three-day talks with IEA officials.

Anneleen Van Bossuyt, Belgium’s Minister for Asylum and Migration, confirmed the country’s participation, describing the mission as an “administrative recognition” effort coordinated by the European Commission. The mission focused on restoring technical cooperation on administrative matters, particularly identifying individuals eligible for voluntary or forced returns, with priority given to undocumented Afghans with criminal records.

Van Bossuyt emphasized that Belgium does not share values with the Islamic Emirate but highlighted the necessity of administrative cooperation with governments holding differing worldviews. She also assured that Afghan women, children, and other asylum-eligible individuals would not be forcibly repatriated.

Currently, more than 2,000 Afghan nationals remain in reception centers across Belgium.

Afghanistan is set to host the next meeting of the working groups established under the United Nations-led Doha process.

The development was announced following a meeting in Kabul between the Minister of Interior Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, and a United Nations delegation led by Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.

During the talks, both sides discussed advancing engagement between Afghanistan and the international community, cooperation in combating narcotics, strengthening economic stability, and addressing restrictions affecting the private sector. Discussions also focused on improving the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance coordinated by the United Nations, according to a statement released by the Interior Ministry.

Minister Haqqani said the Islamic Emirate has taken serious and practical measures to prevent the cultivation, production, and trafficking of narcotics, noting that these efforts have yielded positive results.

The meeting also addressed constructive engagement between the Islamic Emirate and the international community and the expansion of cooperation in light of actual conditions. It was emphasized that mutual respect and realistic cooperation can further strengthen an atmosphere of trust.

The UN delegation praised the current security situation in the country and acknowledged progress made in counter-narcotics efforts. The delegation reaffirmed its commitment to the continuation of humanitarian assistance and emphasized the importance of sustained engagement.

DiCarlo noted that under the third phase of the UN-led Doha process on Afghanistan, the working groups established within this framework are expected to hold their next meeting in Kabul, hosted by Afghanistan.

The majority of Afghan nationals stranded in Pakistan after being denied resettlement in Germany have rejected a German government offer of financial assistance in lieu of relocation, leaving hundreds facing an uncertain future, infomigrants.net reported.

According to the report German authorities informed more than 660 Afghans in December 2025 that despite earlier assurances of resettlement, Germany would no longer be able to admit them. As an alternative, Berlin offered cash support to help affected individuals return to Afghanistan or seek refuge in another country willing to accept them.

According to official figures, only 167 Afghans — including 25 principal applicants and 142 family members — accepted the offer. By contrast, 358 people have rejected the proposal, while at least 137 others were still considering their options as of late December.

Those who declined the offer remain in Pakistan, where their legal status is increasingly precarious. Pakistan has intensified efforts over the past two years to reduce the number of displaced Afghans, raising concerns that those still awaiting decisions could be forced to leave on short notice.

The German government said the decision was influenced by logistical constraints and mounting pressure from Pakistani authorities to complete transfers before the end of 2025 — a deadline Germany was unable to meet. A bilateral agreement protecting Afghans with German resettlement pledges expired at the end of last year, the German Foreign Office confirmed.

The issue has sparked criticism of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government, which took office in May 2025 and pledged in its coalition agreement to wind down voluntary federal admission programs, including those for Afghans.

While Germany continued to resettle hundreds of Afghans in 2025 — primarily former local staff of German institutions and their families — the latest group of rejected applicants largely consisted of journalists, judges, teachers, and human rights activists nominated under a humanitarian admissions program launched by the previous government.

Some applicants succeeded in reaching Germany late last year after winning individual court cases forcing authorities to honor resettlement pledges. However, German officials stressed that these rulings do not automatically apply to others, leaving several hundred Afghans still in limbo.

As of January 2025, more than 35,500 Afghans have been resettled in Germany since the Islamic Emirate takeover in 2021. Yet for hundreds still stranded in Pakistan, the prospect of reaching safety remains uncertain, as diplomatic efforts continue amid tightening regional pressures.