German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has rejected criticism of his government’s contacts with the Taliban, insisting that limited engagement with the group does not constitute normalization or political recognition.
According to Germany’s DPA news agency, Merz made the remarks during a question-and-answer session in the Bundestag on Wednesday after facing criticism from members of the Green Party.
“We are not normalizing this regime,” the chancellor said, stressing that Germany continues to maintain relations with Afghanistan as a state rather than recognizing the Taliban as the country’s legitimate government.
Merz emphasized that Berlin’s contacts with Taliban representatives are conducted only at the lowest technical level and solely in pursuit of Germany’s national interests.
“We are not extending a hand of friendship to the Taliban regime,” he said. “We are cooperating only at the lowest technical level and only where it serves Germany’s interests.”
The German leader stated that the primary purpose of these contacts is to facilitate the return of Afghan nationals who have committed serious crimes in Germany and are subject to deportation.
Merz also expressed full support for Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt’s efforts to increase deportations of convicted offenders to Afghanistan.
The comments come as Germany has intensified efforts in recent weeks to expand deportation flights carrying Afghan nationals with criminal records back to Kabul.
At the same time, a spokesperson for Germany’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that up to four additional Taliban-linked diplomats are expected to travel to Germany to assist with identity verification and travel documentation required for deportation procedures.
German authorities said visa applications and security records of those individuals will undergo thorough review before any entry is approved.
The issue has become increasingly controversial in Germany, where supporters of the policy argue that serious offenders should be returned to their countries of origin, while critics warn that growing cooperation with Taliban authorities could gradually lead to political normalization.
From Nimruz TV’s perspective, the debate highlights the challenge facing European governments as they seek to balance migration enforcement and deportation policies with concerns about maintaining distance from a government that remains unrecognized by much of the international community.
