Netherlands seeks to persuade Uzbekistan to accept Afghan refugees

The Dutch government is exploring the possibility of sending Afghan refugees, who have been rejected for asylum in the Netherlands, to Uzbekistan, according to a report by "NL Times."

The publication notes that Germany recently reached an agreement with Uzbekistan to accept Afghan refugees, and now the Netherlands is attempting to follow a similar path.

"At present, the government is examining what kind of agreements can be established with Uzbekistan," said Marjolein Faber, the Dutch Minister of Refugee Affairs, during a session in the lower house of parliament.

The minister did not disclose further details regarding the negotiations, nor did she specify when more information would be provided. According to Faber, these discussions are still in the early stages, and it would be premature to disclose specifics about the process.

The report indicates that asylum seekers, particularly those who have exhausted all legal avenues for protection abroad or have criminal backgrounds, are often not accepted back into their home countries. For years, the Netherlands and other European nations have been seeking ways to repatriate such individuals. Due to the lack of formal diplomatic ties with Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover, these countries are now looking for alternative solutions for deporting rejected Afghans.

Germany has already made arrangements to return Afghan refugees via Uzbekistan. The two nations reached an agreement last month, which included provisions for the acceptance of Uzbek migrant workers in Germany and development aid to Uzbekistan in exchange for accommodating Afghan refugees.

Earlier reports confirmed that Germany has begun deporting Afghans. Steffen Hebestreit, an official government spokesperson, stated that those being deported are individuals with criminal records who no longer have the right to remain in Germany.