Forced return to Afghanistan is possible again, without collaboration with the Taliban regime, according to Nicole de Moor
In a press release published on 27 January 2025, the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration announced that Belgian authorities could organise the forced return of Afghans to Istanbul and that partners on the ground could then take them to Afghanistan. This collaboration and the budgets for it still need to be finalised by a new government.
Based on the number of people who applied for international protection in Belgium in 2024, Afghans are the third most represented nationality. According to Nicole de Moor, their applications are rejected more often than before. Today, more than six out of ten Afghan applicants see their applications rejected. However, since the return of the Taliban regime, only voluntary return remained possible.
The Secretary of State now announces that she has worked with her departments to make possible the forced return to Afghanistan, via Istanbul. The Belgian services would organise the forced return to Istanbul, after which partners on-site would take over until Afghanistan. Ms de Moor noted that people who committed criminal acts or caused a nuisance would primarily be subject to forced return. It is obviously up to the upcoming government to decide on the cooperation, budgets and priorities to be established for this purpose.
Germany, among others, has organised forced returns to Afghanistan in recent months. Other countries are also working on similar plans.
For further information, please read (in Dutch) the press release from Nicole de Moor.