Berlin, Germany’s federal government has rejected demands from the Taliban-led government in Kabul, requesting the establishment of a consular office in the German capital. A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry stated on Monday that such a demand is “going nowhere.”
Contrary to earlier reports, the Afghan Embassy in Berlin has not been closed, the spokesperson clarified. The embassy continues to operate, with the diplomats in place before the Taliban’s takeover of power. The mission is still capable of performing its consular duties.
“We have not recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, so we are working with those who were appointed before the Taliban era and so far, it’s working” the spokesperson explained.
The debate over the repatriation of rejected or criminalized Afghan asylum seekers to their war-torn country has been rekindled following the Munich attack. Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder, of the Christian Social Union, even called for “weekly” deportation flights over the weekend.
According to media reports, the Taliban have expressed a willingness to cooperate on repatriations, but linked this to the assumption of “consular services for Afghans in Germany” effectively demanding the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party acknowledged in a recent RTL television appearance that, in August last year, there were indeed direct talks between the German government and the Taliban regime, preceding the first and so far only Afghanistan deportation flight since the Taliban’s takeover. Prior to this, the government had denied the existence of such direct contacts, stating that it relied on third countries for cooperation.