The UK Government is considering opening talks with the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan with the aim of facilitating the return of those Afghan asylum seekers whose claims have been rejected. This measure arises in a context of growing migratory pressure, which has led several European countries to put on the table the debate on possible repatriation programs.
The British Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has stated that the Executive is attentive to the initiatives of other States that are exploring avenues of communication with Kabul to address the repatriation of migrants. "We are closely following what is happening with other countries, whether they are European partners or others, and the conversations they are having with Afghanistan," he said in statements to the press, according to the newspaper 'The Guardian'.
Although Mahmood has not confirmed whether London will formally open negotiations, he has hinted at the possibility of doing so: «I am not going to enter into any more debates that are taking place in the Government. We will talk about this in the future, but of course we are closely monitoring the situation and working with our partners on the efforts that we must all make collectively to try to reach agreements. I neither rule it out nor confirm it. "I'm not going to make running comments on other conversations that are taking place."
A significant change in UK immigration policy
An eventual return program would represent a major change from current British policy, which prohibits deportations to Afghanistan, since London does not recognize the Taliban government. This situation has until now created a legal and diplomatic obstacle to the repatriation of people who do not have the right to international protection.
The minister's statements coincide with a series of exploratory contacts between European countries and the Afghan authorities. An example is Sweden, which has confirmed its role as facilitator of the talks between Kabul and Brussels. In addition, European delegations have traveled to Afghanistan in recent months to analyze possible return mechanisms. Some member states of the European Union have shown interest in this type of agreement. In fact, Germany has carried out deportations of more than a hundred Afghan criminals since 2024.
The context of the migration crisis in the United Kingdom
The debate over the return of asylum seekers intensifies at a time when Afghanistan remains one of the main countries of origin for asylum seekers in the UK. In the year that ended in June 2025, Afghan citizens led the arrivals in small boats through the English Channel, with a total of 6,360 people, which represents an increase of 18% compared to the previous year, according to official data compiled by the same medium. Between 2022 and 2024, approximately 29,600 Afghans applied for international protection in British territory.
Under current rules, applicants whose claims are rejected cannot be forcibly returned to Afghanistan, effectively leaving many of them in the UK without legal status unless they opt for voluntary departure.
Humanitarian organizations express concern
Humanitarian organizations have warned that any modification to this policy could have serious consequences, especially in a context in which human rights in Afghanistan have been deteriorating. The United Nations recently described the country as a "human rights graveyard" that applies "gender apartheid," with severe restrictions on women and girls, who have been excluded from education from the age of 11 and from most jobs.
Furthermore, recent reports have reported arbitrary arrests, torture and executions, as well as the progressive elimination of public spaces and basic rights, especially for women, who cannot travel alone, must cover themselves completely in public and are prohibited from speaking in certain contexts.
Legal and ethical dilemmas regarding repatriation
In this scenario, experts have highlighted that the return of asylum seekers raises legal and ethical dilemmas. The director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, Madeleine Sumption, has pointed out that, in principle, the denial of asylum implies that the Government considers that the person can safely return to their country of origin. However, in practice, many states avoid carrying out returns to Afghanistan due to the situation on the ground.
For its part, the British Executive has reinforced its immigration control policy in recent months, implementing measures aimed at reducing irregular arrivals. These measures include return agreements with France and additional restrictions on asylum and visa processes.
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