KABUL: Mufti Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, has confirmed that discussions are underway with the United Kingdom regarding the return of Afghan asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected.
Speaking with The Telegraph, Qani said meetings between Afghan and British officials have already taken place in Kabul, with further engagements expected.
His comments come after Shabana Mahmood, the UK Home Secretary, stated she would neither confirm nor deny whether negotiations were ongoing between London and Kabul on the issue.
Qani emphasized that Afghan authorities are open to dialogue and have no conditions for accepting returning citizens. He also rejected any notion of linking the process to political recognition or financial compensation.
“It is clear they want to return Afghans to their country, and this is their home,” he said.
The development follows broader efforts by Afghan authorities to engage with European partners, including the European Union, on managing the return of Afghan migrants residing without legal status in Europe.
Afghanistan, UK in talks over return of rejected Afghan asylum seekers
