Special Report: Europe, Central Asia sending Afghans back to home as security and crime concerns mount

DND Special Report

European governments are increasingly coordinating with Taliban-linked diplomatic missions to facilitate the deportation of Afghan migrants, amid growing security concerns, criminal convictions and tightening asylum policies across the region.

Danish broadcaster TV 2 Denmark reported on February 22 that Denmark is working with the Afghan embassy in Oslo to arrange the deportation of 57 Afghan nationals whose asylum applications were rejected following criminal convictions. Danish authorities said the engagement is limited to technical and consular coordination and does not constitute formal recognition of the Taliban administration.

Norwegian officials confirmed that the Afghan embassy in Oslo also represents Danish and Icelandic interests but stressed that Norway has not played a decisive role in facilitating the arrangement. Andreas Kravik, state secretary at Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said any decision regarding deportations by Oslo would fall under the jurisdiction of Norway’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security. He added that Norwegian authorities continue to assess the human rights situation in Afghanistan and apply the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returns to countries deemed unsafe.

Denmark’s move reflects a broader shift in international migration policy toward Afghanistan. In recent months, several European states, including Germany and Austria, have established limited contact with Taliban authorities to enable the return of Afghan nationals, particularly those convicted of serious crimes. Germany resumed deportations of Afghan men in late 2025 through indirect routes, while Austria has expanded detention and legal mechanisms to facilitate removals despite Taliban rule. Sweden, France and Switzerland have also continued selective deportations, largely targeting non-vulnerable individuals and criminal offenders.

Outside Europe, deportations have intensified on a far larger scale. Pakistan and Iran together account for the vast majority of Afghan returns, with Pakistan expanding removals to include holders of Afghan Citizen Cards and Iran deporting more than one million Afghans in 2025 alone, according to international estimates. Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and several Central Asian states have also maintained or increased deportations, often citing border security, extremism and economic pressures.

Officials in several host countries have linked deportation policies to security concerns, citing allegations that Afghanistan under Taliban control has become a hub for militant groups. Russia’s Security Council secretary Sergei Shoigu said recently that more than 23,000 fighters from international terrorist organisations are active in Afghanistan, including the Khorasan branch of the Islamic State, which he said operates training camps across multiple regions. A recent United Nations report similarly warned that Taliban-controlled Afghanistan provides a permissive environment for foreign terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda-linked elements and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan fighters.

At the same time, international human rights organisations have sharply criticised Afghan Taliban and more than 100 Afghan and international rights groups have urged the United Nations Human Rights Council and the European Union to establish an independent investigative mechanism for Afghanistan, warning that widespread abuses under Taliban rule continue unchecked. In an open letter, the organisations cited extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, systemic discrimination against women and girls, and persecution of ethnic and religious minorities. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch described Taliban policies toward women as crimes against humanity and gender persecution.

UN special rapporteur Richard Bennett has warned that the failure of the international community to hold the Taliban accountable has emboldened further violations.

Hereunder is AI generated Updated Overview of Afghan Deportations: 2025–2026:

1. Pakistan (MAJOR UPDATE 2025–26)

• Pakistan expanded deportations beyond undocumented Afghans to include Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders.
• Authorities announced phased repatriation plans affecting urban centers (Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi).
• Deportations justified on security, terrorism financing, and economic strain grounds.

References:

• UNHCR Pakistan Update 2025

https://www.unhcr.org/pk

• Reuters (2025):

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-expands-afghan-deportations-2025/

• Al Jazeera (2026):

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/pakistan-afghan-expulsions-expand

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2. Iran

Iran deported over 1 million Afghans in 2025 alone, according to IOM estimates.

• Deportations increasingly include women and families, not only single males.
• Tehran links deportations to border control and domestic unemployment.

References:

• IOM Iran Situation Report 2025

https://www.iom.int/iran-afghan-returns

• Reuters (2025):

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-deports-record-number-afghans-2025/

• Human Rights Watch (2026):

https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/01/iran-afghans-forced-returns

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3. Turkey

• Turkey maintained charter deportation flights to Afghanistan through 2025.
• Increased border fortification with Iran reduced new entries but accelerated removals of those already inside Turkey.

References:

• Amnesty International 2025 Briefing

https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur44/2025/

• Reuters (2025):

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-afghan-deportations-2025/

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4. Germany

• In late 2025, Germany formally resumed deportations of Afghan men convicted of serious crimes.
• Deportations conducted via Qatar and Uzbekistan, with Taliban coordination avoided publicly.

References:

• Deutsche Welle (2025):

https://www.dw.com/en/germany-resumes-afghan-deportations-2025/a-70621455

• Reuters (2026):

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-afghan-removals-2026/

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5. Austria

• Austria announced legal mechanisms to deport Afghans despite Taliban rule.
• Detention prior to deportation expanded in 2025.

References:

• Reuters (2025):

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/austria-hardens-afghan-migration-2025/

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6. Sweden

• Sweden continued deportations of rejected Afghan asylum seekers, especially single men.
• Government reaffirmed Afghanistan as “not uniformly unsafe” in 2025 policy review.

References:

• Swedish Migration Agency (2025):

https://www.migrationsverket.se

• Al Jazeera (2025):

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/sweden-afghan-deportations

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7. France

• France increased removals of Afghans convicted of crimes.
• Returns executed indirectly via third countries.

References:

• Reuters (2025):

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/france-migrant-removals-2025/

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8. Switzerland

• Switzerland reaffirmed deportations for “non-vulnerable” Afghan men in 2025.
• Returns often routed via Central Asia.

References:

• Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) 2025

https://www.sem.admin.ch

• HRW (2026):

https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/02/switzerland-afghan-returns

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9. Greece

• Greece continued border pushbacks and deportations of Afghans entering illegally.
• EU monitoring mission flagged systematic violations in 2025.

References:

• Amnesty International (2025):

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/

• UN Special Rapporteur Report 2026

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10. Bulgaria

• Bulgaria intensified removals under EU external border pressure.
• Afghans remain one of the largest deported groups.

References:

• Human Rights Watch (2025):

https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/06/bulgaria-migrant-pushbacks

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11. Tajikistan

• Tajikistan deported Afghans citing extremism and border security in 2025.
• Crackdowns increased after ISIS-K related incidents.

References:

• Reuters (2025):

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/tajikistan-afghans-2025/

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12. Uzbekistan

• Uzbekistan continued deportations of undocumented Afghans.
• Cooperation with Taliban border officials expanded.

References:

• UNHCR Central Asia Update 2025
• Eurasianet (2025):

https://eurasianet.org/uzbekistan-afghan-migrants

It may be mentioned that regional neighbors (Pakistan, Iran, Central Asian countries) account for over 83% of Afghan deportations. Europe that had been advocate Pakistan to keep the Afghan refugees had tasted the soar soup as reality that majority of Afghans are criminals and they also hate the culture of hosting countries and try to establish their tribal culture in hosting countries. Now Europe has shifted from blanket protection to selective removals, mainly targeting men and criminal convicts and now the principle of non-refoulement that Afghans had been using for a better future in Europe, is not protecting them as it had been in past.