Pakistan, Oct. 20 -- Twenty European nations have urged the European Commission to take immediate measures for the repatriation of Afghan nationals residing illegally across Europe. The joint appeal reflects growing concerns among EU member states over undocumented migrants who have remained in Europe since the Taliban's return to power in 2021. Officials said that the absence of a formal repatriation agreement with Afghanistan has made it difficult to deport even those involved in criminal activities, raising serious security and political challenges for the region.

Belgium's Minister for Asylum and Migration, Annelies Verlinden, announced that the countries had collectively written to the European Commission, demanding that Afghan depo...