In the aftermath of the announcements by Germany and the Netherlands to suspend deportations to Afghanistan, the Interior Ministry explained that this decision had already been taken in France in early July.
Afghanistan had called on European countries to stop these expulsions due to heavy fighting against the Taliban in the country.
France announced Thursday that it had suspended the deportations of Afghan migrants who had refused their asylum applications to their country of origin in early July due to fighting between the Taliban and pro-government forces.
"In view of the deterioration of the security situation in Afghanistan, France has suspended removals to this country since the beginning of July. We are monitoring the development of the situation closely, in conjunction with our European partners", the Interior Ministry told AFP, the day after a similar announcement from Germany and the Netherlands.
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In 2020, Afghanistan was the first country of origin for asylum seekers in France, with 8,886 requests.
On July 11, Afghanistan called on European countries to stop deporting Afghan migrants over the next three months, due to the intensification of fighting in the country.
Sweden and Finland had suspended removals to Afghanistan following the appeal.
The Netherlands and Germany which, alongside Austria, Belgium, Denmark and Greece had asked Brussels to be able to continue the expulsions, finally did an about-face on Wednesday by announcing to suspend them in turn.
Afghans constitute 10.6% of asylum seekers in Europe
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, 1,000 of whom were initially described as "volunteers", the other 200 having been "forced" to leave.
The Taliban launched in early May an all-out offensive against Afghan forces, in favor of the final withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan, scheduled to end at the end of August. They took Thursday from the strategic city of Ghazni, 150 km southwest of Kabul, and are approaching dangerously close to the capital of Afghanistan after having seized in a few days most of the northern half of the country. .