Ex-German foreign minister urges talks with Taliban for deportations

By Cuneyt Karadag

BERLIN (AA) - Former German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has urged the government to negotiate with Afghanistan's interim administration over the deportation of Afghan nationals who have committed serious crimes.

In an article written for German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, former Social Democratic Party (SPD) leader Gabriel said Germany should attempt negotiations with the Taliban to legally enforce deportations to Afghanistan.

Gabriel also demanded guarantees from Kabul that Afghans sent from Germany would not be tortured or killed.

He argued that additionally the German government should economically reward states that take back their citizens.

Gabriel emphasized that everyone who seeks asylum in Germany from abroad but commits crimes will lose their right to protection.

The issue of deporting Afghans and Syrians came to the forefront last week in Germany following a knife attack by an Afghan asylum-seeker in Mannheim.

* Writing by Muhammed Enes Calli