Taliban diplomats visit Geneva at Switzerland’s invitation

KABUL: Four diplomats from the Taliban government have traveled to Geneva at the invitation of the Swiss government to identify Afghan nationals convicted of crimes. Swiss state television reported late yesterday, citing local officials, that this action is “sensitive but necessary.” The diplomats reportedly arrived “a few days ago,” although the exact date of their visit was not specified. According to a spokesperson for the Swiss Federal Migration Office, the Taliban delegation’s two-day mission was aimed at facilitating the return of eleven convicted individuals and two others to Afghanistan. Daniel Bach, a representative of the Swiss migration office, stated that this process was essential for issuing travel documents, as the Taliban only accept documents issued by their own officials, rendering other documents from the Afghan representation in Bern invalid. Swiss authorities noted that the Taliban delegation did not leave the Geneva airport during their stay and focused solely on identification tasks. Most of the individuals sought have been identified, and arrangements for their return are underway, though further investigations are needed in some cases. Swiss television indicated that this initiative is part of a policy announced last year by Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans, which states that Afghan convicts should be expelled upon completion of their prison terms. This program was initiated after Germany expelled several convicted Afghan nationals from its territory.