German media outlets have reported that the German government has agreed to accept six additional Taliban diplomats following a confidential meeting with Taliban representatives in Istanbul.
According to a report by NDR, the understanding was reached after several days of discussions between German officials and Taliban representatives at a hotel in the Turkish city.
Germany’s Interior Ministry has confirmed that technical-level talks took place between ministry representatives and Taliban officials but declined to provide further details. Germany’s Foreign Ministry has also confirmed that the discussions were held in Istanbul.
Reports indicate that, in addition to Interior Ministry officials, diplomats from Germany’s Foreign Ministry participated in the meetings.
The Taliban had previously argued that additional diplomatic staff were required in Germany to assist with identifying Afghan nationals and issuing travel documents for individuals facing deportation from the country.
At present, only two Taliban-linked consular officials are reportedly operating in Germany, managing affairs related to Afghanistan’s embassy in Berlin and its consulate in Bonn.
German media have also reported that a planned deportation flight at the end of May was delayed because of disagreements over the number of Taliban diplomats permitted to work in Germany.
The development comes as Germany moves toward expanding deportation flights to Afghanistan.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt recently stated that deportation flights to Kabul would become more regular, with authorities aiming to conduct up to three flights per month.
According to German media reports, at least 100 Afghan nationals convicted of various crimes are currently being held in prisons and deportation detention facilities across Germany and are expected to be included in future removal operations.
From Nimruz TV’s perspective, the reported agreement reflects a growing practical relationship between Berlin and the Taliban despite the absence of formal diplomatic recognition. While German officials describe the contacts as technical and focused on migration management, critics argue that expanding diplomatic access could be interpreted as a step toward broader engagement with the Taliban administration.
The issue is likely to remain politically sensitive in Germany, where migration policy, deportations and relations with Afghanistan continue to generate intense public and political debate.
