The Taliban has reportedly expressed readiness to work with UK Member of Parliament Nigel Farage following his announcement of an unprecedented mass deportation plan for the UK.

 

Reform UK’s proposal aims to return 600,000 illegal migrants over five years, equating to roughly 300 deportations per day.

 

Farage revealed that his government would seek return agreements with several countries, including Iran, Eritrea, and Afghanistan, which is now under Taliban control.

 

The Taliban, a group that first came to power in the 1990s, has previously been accused by the United States of sheltering al-Qaeda fighters after the September 11 attacks. The US and its allies invaded Afghanistan in late 2001, and decades of conflict have left the region unstable, with tens of thousands fleeing the country and more than 70,000 Afghan and Pakistani civilians killed. In 2021, the Taliban regained power following the US withdrawal.

 

Reform UK board member Zia Yusuf described it as “quite reasonable” to offer financial support to the Taliban for accommodating deported migrants. A senior Taliban official in Kabul reportedly said, "We are ready and willing to receive and embrace whoever he [Farage] sends us. We are prepared to work with anyone who can help end the struggles of Afghan refugees, as we know many of them do not have a good life abroad."

 

The official emphasized that while Afghanistan would not demand payment for accepting its citizens, aid to help newcomers would be welcomed. "Afghanistan is home to all Afghans, and the Islamic Emirate is determined to make this country a place where everyone, those already here, those returning, or those being sent back from the West by Mr Farage or anyone else, can live with dignity," he said.

 

Reacting to these statements, Yusuf remarked, "Reform continues to show the way. If only this awful [Labour] government would step aside." The Taliban official suggested Farage might be easier to negotiate with than the current Labour government, adding, "We will accept anyone he sends, whether they are legal or illegal refugees in Britain."

 

The Labour government has not ruled out a return agreement with Afghanistan, with a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer stating, "We’re not going to take anything off the table." However, EU relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds condemned Reform’s plan as "outlandish," accusing Farage of "dividing communities and stoking anger." Conservative Party chair Kevin Hollinrake said his party would "potentially" be open to similar arrangements with the Taliban.

 

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn criticized the rhetoric around deportations, saying, "I am sickened by the relentless demonisation of refugees. No refugee underfunded a school. No refugee closed a hospital. No refugee took away support from the sick and disabled. We need solutions not scapegoats. Stop blaming refugees and tax the rich instead!"

 

Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, only nine Afghans have been deported from the UK, with the Home Office ensuring that "no one found to be at legitimate risk of persecution or serious harm will be expected to return to their country of origin." Reform UK, in contrast, aims to introduce legislation barring asylum claims and mandating the deportation of migrants who enter the country illegally.

 

On concerns about the safety of deported Afghans, Farage said, "It bothers me, but what really bothers me is what is happening on the streets of our country. What really bothers me is what is happening to British citizens."

 

Reform board member Gawain Towler added, "We are responsible for the people of this country. How does somebody who's served our country and is living on the streets feel about the hostels and the hotels being provided for people who arrived here on the boats? Those are the people I care about. I'm sorry, I don't care about the whole world."