The Guardian

Europe rebuked for removing Afghans to one of world's most dangerous countries

Sweden and Germany at forefront of rise in refused asylum seekers being sent back since EU agreed aid package for country
An Afghan refugee who was deported from Germany arrives with his belongings at the international airport in Kabul on January 24, 2017. Germany deported a second batch of would-be Afghan refugees to Kabul on January 24 under a disputed Afghan-EU deal signed last October and aimed at curbing the influx of migrants.?The 26 men, escorted by 80 German police officers, landed shortly after 7.30 am (0300 GMT) in Kabul, airport police spokesman Mohammad Adjmal Fawzi told AFP. / AFP / WAKIL KOHSAR / Getty Images

Britain and other European nations are under increasing pressure to explain why they are sending hundreds of desperate Afghans back to one of the world’s most dangerous countries.

MPs and MEPs have raised questions about whether the EU tied a 2016 aid package for Afghanistan to its willingness to take back refused asylum seekers.

Since the deal, forced repatriations have accelerated. The International Organisation for Migration says 500 Afghans have been forcibly removed back to Afghanistan this year, compared to 200 last year. More than 3,000 have returned voluntarily this year.

As of September 2017, Afghans

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