Austria deports first Afghan since Taliban seized power, says more to come

Austria has carried out its first deportation of an Afghan national to Kabul since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, marking a significant shift in the country’s immigration policy. The move comes as the conservative-led government in Vienna intensifies its efforts to curb illegal immigration and reinforce national security measures.
According to Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, the deportation took place on Tuesday morning and involved a man convicted of serious crimes. “This morning, a man convicted of serious crimes was deported to Kabul — the first deportation to Afghanistan since 2021,” Stocker wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He further stated, “Austria is thus sending a clear message: zero tolerance for anyone who has forfeited their right to remain by committing criminal offences.”The deportation highlights the government’s renewed focus on enforcing strict migration laws after years of hesitation regarding deportations to Afghanistan due to security and humanitarian concerns. The Taliban’s return to power in 2021 had led several European nations, including Austria, to temporarily suspend deportations, citing the volatile political and security situation in the war-torn country.
Political analysts note that the government’s decision comes at a time when Austria’s ruling coalition — consisting of three centrist parties — is seeking to maintain public trust and counter the growing influence of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO). The FPO had secured the highest number of votes in the recent parliamentary elections but failed to form a governing coalition. Despite that, it continues to lead in opinion polls, largely because of its strong anti-immigration stance.