Germany, Netherlands freeze deportations to Afghanistan

Berlin and Amsterdam announce U-turns as Taliban fighters make rapid territorial gains in conflict-gripped Afghanistan.

Germany and the Netherlands are temporarily halting any efforts to deport Afghan asylum seekers, a move that acknowledges the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the war-torn country. The countries announced the U-turn on Wednesday, although both countries had earlier warned against halting deportations, insisting on their continued right to do so. They were among six European Union member states who last week petitioned the bloc not to suspend returns to Afghanistan, where the speed of the Taliban’s blitz has shocked the government and its Western allies. The others were Austria, Denmark, Belgium and Greece. Taliban fighters battling Afghanistan’s US-backed government captured a ninth provincial capital in less than a week amid a blistering offensive launched as foreign forces withdraw.