'Where will I go?': Afghan refugees in Germany fear Taliban's diplomatic return
Roqia Saee thought she would be safe when she arrived in Germany with her two children in 2023, having fled her homeland a wanted woman. Born in the central Afghan city of Bamyan in 1995, six years before the Taliban blew up its 1,400-year-old Buddha statues , she grew up hearing about atrocities perpetrated by the insurgents. When the group returned to power five years ago, she was arrested and…
Roqia Saee fled Afghanistan in 2023 as a wanted woman, having faced brutality at the hands of the Taliban during her protests. Her arrival in Germany marked the beginning of her fears about the Taliban's return to power. When the Taliban took control again in 2021, many European countries withdrew their embassies, but Germany maintained diplomatic relations.
In 2025, Germany publicly acknowledged the accreditation of two Taliban diplomats, which has triggered anxiety among Afghan refugees like Ms. Saee. She believes the Taliban may use the data shared with Germany against her or her family. The German government maintains that their cooperation with the Taliban is purely technical, yet it continues to deport Afghan criminals and encourages repatriation.
This policy has been criticized by some MPs, who argue that the collaboration blurs the lines between diplomatic recognition and technical engagement.
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- 'Where will I go?': Afghan refugees in Germany fear Taliban's diplomatic return thenationalnews.com
