Politico reports that Germany’s deal with the Taliban is alarming Afghan dissidents living in exile, who fear the regime they fled is now regaining power over their lives inside Germany. Under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Berlin has allowed Taliban-appointed officials to take over Afghan diplomatic missions in return for cooperation on deportation flights to Afghanistan, making Germany the first EU country to grant the Taliban this kind of diplomatic foothold.
For Afghan refugees and activists, the consequences are deeply personal. Many may now have to renew passports or handle official paperwork through missions controlled by Taliban representatives, raising fears of intimidation, surveillance, and possible retaliation against relatives still in Afghanistan. Some also worry the Taliban could gain access to sensitive personal data, leaving dissidents vulnerable to blackmail or extortion.
The policy reflects growing domestic pressure on Merz to toughen migration enforcement as the far-right AfD gains ground in the polls. But critics argue the arrangement amounts to de facto normalization of the Taliban, despite Berlin’s insistence that the cooperation is purely technical. Afghan activists and opposition politicians warn that the deal risks importing the Taliban’s coercive methods into Europe while undermining Germany’s commitment to protecting those who fled persecution.
Merz’s deal with the Taliban alarms Afghan dissidents in Germany – POLITICO
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