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EU Nations Urge Brussels to Resume Deportations of Afghans, Including Talks with Taliban
Twenty European countries have called on the European Commission to restart the deportation of Afghan nationals living illegally in Europe, even if it means negotiating with the Taliban government in Kabul.
In a letter addressed to European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner, the 20 nations urged Brussels to prioritise the return of Afghans who have no legal right to remain in the EU — whether voluntarily or by force. The move was spearheaded by Belgium’s Minister for Asylum and Migration, Anneleen Van Bossuyt, who said the lack of a formal return mechanism since the Taliban takeover in 2021 has created security concerns and eroded public confidence in the bloc’s asylum system.
“The inability to deport Afghans, including those convicted of crimes, poses a threat to our citizens and undermines trust in our asylum policy,” Van Bossuyt said in a statement on Saturday.
The initiative has been backed by 19 other EU and European Economic Area countries, including Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden.
The joint letter calls for the European Commission to place the issue high on its migration agenda and explore ways to engage with the Taliban to establish a formal repatriation framework. It also proposes giving the EU’s border agency, Frontex, a stronger role in coordinating and supporting voluntary returns through the EU Reintegration Programme.
For forced returns, the letter recommends prioritising Afghans deemed dangerous or convicted of criminal offences, through a coordinated mission between the Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS), and interested member states.
Since the fall of Kabul in 2021, the Taliban has been largely isolated internationally, with Russia being the only country to formally recognise its government. However, some EU states — notably Germany — have taken steps toward engagement. Berlin, under Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative government, deported 81 Afghans in July and has indicated its willingness to negotiate with the Taliban on future returns.
Germany’s actions have drawn criticism from the United Nations, which continues to advise against deportations to Afghanistan due to ongoing instability and human rights concerns. “Afghanistan remains under a non-return advisory,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).
Arafat Jamal of the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) added that his organisation has continued to document “serious human rights violations” in Afghanistan, warning that deportations could place returnees at significant risk.
The European Commission has not yet formally responded to the letter, but the issue is expected to spark intense debate among EU policymakers over balancing security, humanitarian obligations, and relations with the Taliban regime.
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Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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