France has begun technical talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities to facilitate the deportation of Afghan nationals who are in the country without legal status and are considered a threat to public order, a diplomatic source said.
France has not maintained formal diplomatic relations with the Taliban since they returned to power in August 2021, while its embassy in Kabul remains closed.
However, France has joined around 20 European Union countries, including Germany, Belgium and Sweden, in efforts to accelerate the return of Afghan nationals, particularly those convicted by courts.
“As in other European countries, a technical dialogue has been initiated with the Taliban in order to facilitate the direct removal to Afghanistan of Afghan nationals in an irregular situation who pose a threat to public order,” the diplomatic source said.
The Taliban authorities are not officially recognised by the European Union and have been seeking greater international recognition since returning to power.
France’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to questions about whether Taliban representatives could travel to France as part of efforts to speed up deportation procedures.
The diplomatic source did not disclose how many Afghans could potentially be deported. However, another source familiar with the matter estimated that the number could reach several hundred.
The French diplomatic source stressed that the technical discussions did not represent a change in Paris’ broader policy towards Afghanistan.
“This technical dialogue does not call our position on Afghanistan into question,” the source said, adding that France would continue supporting the Afghan population, particularly Afghan women.
A meeting in June between Taliban officials and members of the European Parliament had previously drawn criticism from human rights organisations and left-wing groups within the parliament.
Since returning to power, the Taliban has imposed strict restrictions based on its interpretation of Islamic law.
Women and girls have faced extensive restrictions, including bans on access to many public spaces and employment opportunities. Girls are also barred from continuing formal education beyond the age of 12.
