Germany has deported 13 Afghan nationals to Kabul on a charter flight, the Interior Ministry said Wednesday, as Berlin continues its policy of removing foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes.
According to the ministry, all 13 individuals had received final deportation orders and had criminal convictions in Germany. Officials said the offenses included sexual crimes, violent assault, drug trafficking and other serious criminal offenses.
The deportation flight arrived in Kabul on Tuesday following coordination between German authorities and Afghan counterparts. The Interior Ministry said the individuals had exhausted their legal options to remain in Germany and were subject to removal because of their convictions.
The latest deportation is part of Germany’s efforts to continue removals to Afghanistan despite the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Berlin has maintained that deportations of convicted offenders are separate from humanitarian admission programs for Afghans considered at risk of persecution.
The ministry said 263 Afghan nationals have been deported since Germany’s current governing coalition took office, with nearly all reportedly having criminal records.
Refugee advocacy organization Pro Asyl has cited German parliamentary data showing that around 13,000 Afghan nationals were under orders to leave the country at the end of 2025. About 10,000 reportedly held “Duldung” status, meaning their deportation was temporarily suspended.
Rights organizations have raised concerns about returns to Afghanistan, citing the country’s human rights situation and restrictions under Taliban rule. They argue that deportations can raise serious legal and humanitarian questions.
The latest removal comes as several European countries continue efforts to deport foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes while debating the legal and humanitarian implications of returns to Afghanistan.