Austria plans to sign a transit and deportation agreement with Uzbekistan to aid the return of migrants, including Afghan nationals, back to Afghanistan via Uzbekistan.

Interior and Foreign Ministers are expected to travel to Uzbekistan next month to sign the deal, signaling high-level government commitment.

Austria’s interior ministry spokesperson framed the pact as essential for moving people facing deportation, particularly toward Afghanistan.

Analysts note rights groups and UN refugee agencies have raised concerns about the EU’s deportation push, with coverage also citing conservative outlets.

The agreement is part of a broader EU strategy to create transit routes and external ‘return hubs’ by coordinating with partner countries outside the bloc.

The development reflects growing anxiety among Afghan refugees in Europe about potential forced returns, which could set a regional precedent.

The International Rescue Committee reports a rise in Afghan deportations worldwide and calls for policy changes to ensure protection and humane migration practices.

IRC warns about increasing deportations of Afghan migrants globally, urging safeguards.

Austria has already implemented stricter measures, including a temporary halt on family reunification and tighter border security, ahead of this pact.

The agreement seeks deeper cooperation on border protection and fraud-detection in documents, aligning with EU efforts to boost deportations of illegal migrants.

The pact aims to streamline deportation procedures and the transit process for individuals facing removal.

EU-wide deportations of those without rights to stay continue, despite concerns from rights groups and the UN refugee agency about safety and legality of deportations to Afghanistan.