Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has indicated the UK could explore talks with the Taliban regarding the deportation of failed asylum seekers to Afghanistan. Ms Mahmood said the UK is ”monitoring very closely” other countries' plans, particularly European nations, which are reportedly considering similar discussions with the Taliban.
Potential policy reversal
This potential move would mark a significant policy reversal, as the UK government currently does not recognise the Taliban administration, a barrier to such deportations. Afghans were the most common nationality arriving in the UK by small boat in the year ending June 2025, with 6,360 arrivals, an 18 per cent increase from the previous year.
Humanitarian concerns
Humanitarian groups are expected to react with outrage, given recent UN warnings describing Afghanistan as a “graveyard for human rights” with ”gender apartheid“ under Taliban rule.
