Austria, Islamic Emirate Discuss Deportation of 20 Criminal Afghan Migrants

Austria’s Ministry of Interior has confirmed the visit of a delegation from the Islamic Emirate to the country, stating that both sides discussed the deportation of 20 Afghan migrants with criminal records.

This meeting has been described as part of Europe’s limited engagement with the Islamic Emirate on issues related to migration and security.

So far, the Islamic Emirate has not made any official comment on the matter.

A section of the Austrian media report states: “Officials from the Islamic Emirate, during this visit, also cooperated in identifying 20 Afghan migrants with criminal backgrounds who are to be deported to Afghanistan.”

Abbas Hassanzada, an international relations analyst, stated: “Given the economic challenges within the country, it is beneficial for the Islamic Emirate to engage with neighboring and distant countries so that Afghan migrants can remain in their host countries.”

Although European countries have not officially recognized the Islamic Emirate, the issue of migration—particularly the deportation of criminal migrants—has become a key point in the limited and informal dialogues between the two sides.

Seyed Hossein Sajjadi, a political affairs analyst, said: “While the recent visit of an Islamic Emirate delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Austria was officially described as aimed at enhancing consular services, what matters is that such visits can strengthen the Emirate’s political relations with host countries.”

Akram Arefi, another political analyst, commented: “The trip itself could open a political channel. The fact that Austria allowed an Afghan delegation to obtain visas—likely in coordination with the European Union—and carry out a visit that was reflected in the media indicates that Austria and other European countries are prepared to engage in dialogue with the Taliban.”

Since the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Islamic Emirate in August 2021, thousands of Afghans have fled to European countries.

Austria is among the nations that have experienced a new wave of Afghan migrants. Now, the deportation of some of these migrants, particularly those with criminal records, has become one of the most controversial topics in the country’s domestic politics.