Germany and the Netherlands announced on Wednesday the suspension of deportations of Afghan migrants to their countries of origin due to the fighting there between the Taliban and pro-government forces, which left many civilian victims.

This is a about-face for these two countries.

Along with the Belgian, Danish, Greek and Austrian governments, Germany and the Netherlands last week asked the European Commission to maintain the possibility of deporting Afghan migrants, despite a call from Kabul to stop these deportations.

A six-month moratorium

In Berlin, the Interior Ministry finally opted for the suspension "because of the evolution of the security situation" in the country, justified one of its spokespersons, Steve Alter, on Twitter.

Der #Bundesinnenminister hat aufgrund der aktuellen Entwicklungen der Sicherheitslage entschieden, #Abschiebungen nach #Afghanistan zunächst auszusetzen.

- Steve Alter (@BMISprecher) August 11, 2021

Since 2016, around a thousand Afghans, refused their asylum applications, have been deported by plane to their country by the German authorities, especially during the years 2018 and 2019.

"The situation in Afghanistan is likely to change and events for the coming period are so uncertain that I have decided to introduce a moratorium on (expulsion) decisions and departures," said the secretary for her part. Dutch State Justice and Security, Ankie Broekers-Knol.

"The moratorium on decisions and departures applies for a period of six months and applies to foreign nationals of Afghan nationality," added the minister of the liberal VVD party in a letter to the Dutch parliament.

Expulsions denounced by left-wing parties and defense associations

No forced return of Afghans has taken place in the past six months and no expulsion is expected soon, she said.

The expulsions of Afghans were denounced in both Germany and the Netherlands by left-wing parties and associations for the defense of asylum seekers.

But the situation in Afghanistan has changed significantly in recent weeks.

Taliban galvanized by withdrawal of foreign forces

Galvanized by the withdrawal of foreign forces, which will have left Afghanistan for good by the end of the month after 20 years of presence, the Taliban have multiplied the territorial gains.

They seized Kunduz, the large northeastern city, and eight other provincial capitals in recent days in a lightning offensive that began in May and has recently gained momentum.

The Kabul government in July called on European countries to stop deporting Afghan migrants for the next three months.

Sweden and Finland had suspended removals to Afghanistan following the appeal.

10.6% of asylum seekers in the EU

Afghans made up 10.6% of asylum seekers in the EU in 2020 (just over 44,000 out of some 416,600 applications), the second largest contingent behind Syrians (15.2%), according to the statistical agency of the 'EU Eurostat.

According to a European official, since the start of 2021, 1,200 people have been returned from the EU to Afghanistan, including 1,000 initially described as "volunteers", the other 200 having been "forced" to leave.

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