Germany could restart its program of deportation of failed asylum-seekers to Afghanistan as soon as next week, German media reported on Thursday.

Germany halted its controversial deportation program earlier this month after the Afghan capital of Kabul was struck with one of its deadliest suicide bombings.

Separate reports from public broadcaster NDR and news magazine Der Spiegel said a new deportation flight to Kabul from Leipzig could leave on Wednesday.

Those reports were not officially confirmed.

Read more: The dark side of Germany's deportation policy

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After the bombing, Germany's federal and state governments agreed on a suspension of deportations to Afghanistan until a further security assessment by the Foreign Ministry. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the halt would likely last until July.

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Merkel also said they would continue to deport criminals and security threats as well as those who did not want to release their identity.

Rights groups decry policy

Many German politicians and rights groups have long argued that Merkel's government was not justified in sending refugees back to Afghanistan due to safety concerns.

Günter Burkhardt, head of the refugee rights organization, Pro Asyl, said it was "incomprehensible and appalling" that the deportations should begin again.

He also warned that the broad wording of the policy puts many Afghans in danger. Migrants seeking protection but who do not own a passport could be seen to be refusing to their release their identity, he said, adding that the terms "criminal" and "security risks" are also subjective and could be interpreted very broadly."

Between January and April 2017, Germany deported a total of 8,620 failed asylum-seekers, according to a report by Die Welt am Sonntag, which cited figures from Germany's federal police. Last year it deported more than 25,000.

Some 11,195 failed asylum-seekers returned to their home country voluntarily in the first four months of 2017. In 2016, a total of 54,006 people chose the voluntary return program, which covers certain costs, including travel expenses.

Read more: German Foreign Minister Gabriel calls for peace talks with Taliban

Read more: Afghanistan: sent back to a war zone

Dangers facing returnees

Endless battle for power in Afghanistan Fragile security Repeated attacks in Afghanistan in 2018 and 2019 have killed and wounded hundreds of innocent Afghans, and shown the world the fragile and worsening state of security in the conflict-stricken country. The incidents have plunged war-weary Afghan citizens into a state of despair and highlighted the limitations faced by the government in Kabul in ensuring public security.

Endless battle for power in Afghanistan A long series of attacks The violent incidents have made Afghanistan once again a staple of international headlines. Outfits like the Taliban and the "Islamic State" (IS) have claimed responsibility for the attacks. The Afghan government is under heavy pressure to restore security and take back territory controlled by a number of insurgent groups, including the Taliban and IS.

Endless battle for power in Afghanistan Spring offensive In 2018, the Taliban announced the start of their annual spring offensive, dismissing an offer of peace talks by President Ashraf Ghani. The militants, fighting to restore their version of strict Islamic law to Afghanistan, said their campaign was a response to a more aggressive US military strategy adopted in 2017, which aims to force the militants into peace talks.

Endless battle for power in Afghanistan Trump's Afghanistan policy US President Donald Trump unveiled a new strategy for Afghanistan in 2017, vowing to deploy more troops to train and advise Afghan security forces. Trump also pledged to support Afghan troops in their war against the Taliban and maintain US presence in the country for as long as there was a need for it. In 2019, he reversed course and promised a troop pullout.

Endless battle for power in Afghanistan Afghan peace process Despite President Ghani's offer in February 2018 for peace talks "without preconditions," the Taliban had until 2019 shown no interest, dismissing the peace overtures as a "conspiracy."

Endless battle for power in Afghanistan Pakistani support Pakistan has been under pressure from Kabul and Washington to stop offering safe havens to militants blamed for attacks in Afghanistan, a charge Islamabad denies and insists that its influence over the insurgents has been exaggerated. Kabul and Islamabad regularly trade accusations of harboring the other country's militants and the harsh language has underscored the strains between them.

Endless battle for power in Afghanistan Role of the warlords Apart from the Taliban, Afghan warlords exercise massive influence in the country. Last year, Hizb-i-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar returned to Kabul after a 20-year exile to play an active role in Afghan politics. In September 2016, the Afghan government signed a deal with Hekmatyar in the hope that other warlords and militant groups would seek better ties with Kabul.

Endless battle for power in Afghanistan An inefficient government In the midst of an endless battle for power, President Ghani's approval ratings continue to plummet. Rampant corruption in the Afghan government and a long tug-of-war within the US-brokered national unity government has had a negative impact on the government's efforts to eradicate terrorism. Author: Shamil Shams



Despite Afghanistan not being on Germany's official list of "safe countries of origin," the federal government has nevertheless been pushing for speedier repatriations of failed asylum-seekers following last December's terror attack at a Berlin Christmas market. That attack was conducted by a failed Tunisian asylum-seeker authorities were not able to deport.

The federal government has repeatedly said that "some parts" of the country are now safe and therefore suitable for Afghan returnees, although several state governments are openly challenging this position, saying none of Afghanistan can yet be classified as safe.

Burkhardt said that Afghans returning from Europe find themselves in particular danger, pointing out that anyone found dressed in supposed western clothes would be immediately viewed as a collaborator with the west.

Afghanistan's deteriorating security situation prompted German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel to call for peace talks with the Taliban earlier this month.

"One doesn't make peace with friends, rather with enemies,” Gabriel told the weekly Bild am Sonntag newspaper, saying the Taliban must be negotiated with in order to find a political solution in Afghanistan.

The radical Islamist movement still controls or influences nearly 40 percent of the country, proving their resiliency 16 years after a US-led invasion of the country.