Germany is reportedly weighing the possibility of transferring control of the Afghan Embassy in Berlin to the Taliban-led government in Kabul in an effort to streamline deportations of Afghan nationals residing in the country.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt revealed the proposal in comments to the domestic press, stating that without formal coordination with the authorities in Kabul, Germany is facing significant logistical and legal challenges in processing and executing deportations of Afghan citizens.
Dobrindt also confirmed that he had reached an agreement on the issue with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
At present, the Afghan Embassy in Berlin is still staffed by diplomats appointed under the previous, U.S.-backed Afghan government. However, in 2024, the Taliban announced it would no longer recognize documents issued by diplomatic missions not under its direct control, prompting the closure of Afghanistan’s embassy in London and increasing cooperation between Kabul and some remaining missions abroad.
Dobrindt emphasized that handing over the Berlin embassy to the Taliban would not amount to formal recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, but rather a pragmatic step to facilitate communication and logistical cooperation needed to enforce deportation orders.
A similar precedent was set earlier this year when Norway became the first European country to formally establish diplomatic ties with the Taliban. The Afghan Embassy in Oslo was transferred to Kabul’s control in March, and was simultaneously accredited to handle Afghan affairs in Denmark and Iceland as well.
The deportation of Afghans has become a contentious issue across the region. Both Iran and Pakistan—countries that host millions of Afghan refugees—have escalated mass deportations this year. In the aftermath of Israel’s 12-day war with Iran, Iranian authorities arrested hundreds of Afghans for alleged espionage or complicity in drone production for Israeli intelligence agency Mossad.
Iranian media reported that some 400 Afghans had been working at a secret drone manufacturing site located near the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters in Tehran. Following the war, Tehran began accelerating deportations, with Afghan authorities now claiming that over 40,000 Afghan nationals are expelled from Iran daily—a figure that may continue to rise.