8 An Overview: Statistics, Updates and Trends in Deportation In October 2016, Afghanistan signed a readmission agreement, Joint Way Forward, with the European Union. Within the framework of this agreement, Afghanistan committed itself to readmit those Afghan whose application for refugee and protection status were rejected in return for targeted reintegration assistance. Afghanistan also committed itself to cooperate with EU member states to reduce and prevent Afghan migration to European countries.1 The Joint Way Forward did not explicitly condition development aid to readmission and the prevention of Afghan migration to Europe but the Afghan government promoted a national narrative according to which it was forced to sign the agreement in order to ensure the flow of development aid essential for the survival of the Afghan population. The agreement created a split within the Afghan government, which saw the minister of repatriation and the Chief Executive against President Ashraf Ghani. Ultimately, President Ghani’s close aide signed the Agreement2 after the Minster of Repatriation’s refusal to cooperate. The split with the National Unity Government largely expressed itself in the form of a tacit Non-Pasthun alignment against the Pashtuns, thus, leading to increased ethnic polarisation outside the government too. The circulation of idea of safe regional zones for deportation further fuelled the fears among the non-Pasthuns. Certain elements of the Joint Way Forward favourable to European Member States have been successfully implemented. Thousands of Afghans have been deported against a worsening conflict situation ever since the agreement was signed and the migration of Afghans towards the European Union has experienced a dramatic drop, 76% by 20173.4 Other elements of the agreement, however, such as reintegration have not been as rigorously implemented. Of the 50 deportees interviewed, none had benefited from any integration programs. According to Eurostat, 19,390 individuals were returned across the span of a three years’ timeframe: 6,620 in 2017, 9,480 in 2016 and 3,290 in 2015. The Afghan Ministry of Repatriation reported 8564 returns from 2014 to mid-2019. This stands in stark contrast with Eurostat figures, revealing that the Afghan government has been unable to track to number of returns thoroughly. Research interviews with 50 deportees showed that the Afghan government has not engaged with them at all, other than having border police harassing them at the Kabul airport upon return. As mentioned above, it appears that the Joint Way Forward has achieved a decrease in migratory movements of Afghans towards the European Union and a significant number of deportations of Afghans to an extremely volatile conflict situation. What has not been achieved, however, is the European-aided reintegration of Afghan deportees envisaged in the agreement. Provision of a small amount of cash as an incentive for voluntary return has helped the most immediate needs of those deported’ but this ob1. Joint Way Forward on migration issues between Afghanistan and the EU, October 2016 2. Jelena Bjelica, Afghanistan Analyst Network, EU and Afghanistan Get Deal on Migrants: Disagreements, pressure and last minute politics 3. Amnesty International, Index: ASA11/9262/2018, Public Statement, p. 5, October 2018 4. ABC