Afghan Embassy in London Closes

The Afghan Embassy in London has officially shut its doors, according to the British Foreign Ministry. Former Afghan Ambassador to the UK, Zalmai Rassoul, was formally notified of this decision.

Reports indicate that Rassoul was called to the British Foreign Office last Friday, where he was informed that the embassy would be closed within 20 days.

The closure of the Afghan Embassy, however, will not result in the transfer of its operations to Taliban representatives.

The British government has made it clear that the embassy will remain closed, and staff have been given 90 days to leave the United Kingdom.

This decision poses significant challenges for the Afghan diaspora in the UK, which is one of the largest in Europe.

The embassy's closure will make it difficult for Afghan nationals in the UK to access consular services.

In a related development, Germany is exploring ways to facilitate the deportation of Afghan nationals.

Joachim Stamp, the German government’s Commissioner for Migration, hinted at the possibility of direct talks with the Taliban.

Stamp suggested that exploratory discussions could be an option, acknowledging opposition from certain political figures but emphasizing Germany’s interest in returning refugees to Afghanistan.

While Germany currently has no formal diplomatic relations with the Taliban, the potential for dialogue is growing.

The Taliban government has not been officially recognized by any country, but efforts to repatriate Afghan nationals have already begun.

In late August, Germany carried out its first deportation flight to Afghanistan since the Taliban's return to power three years ago. The flight carried 28 convicted Afghan criminals who had violated deportation orders.

Qatar played a mediating role between Germany and the Taliban in facilitating these deportations.

Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union, has openly supported direct negotiations with the Taliban and the Syrian regime to address deportations. He emphasized that the German government has the resources and expertise to establish such contacts.

While some German politicians advocate for diplomatic engagement, others, like Nils Schmid from the Social Democratic Party, have taken a more cautious approach. Schmid acknowledged that technical discussions with the Taliban may be unavoidable for specific issues, such as deportations.