Despite the Afghan Taliban's growing foreign engagement, a widening divide between countries willing to foster close ties with the group and the generally Western states that will remain more hesitant will challenge efforts to stem Afghanistan's worsening domestic challenges, which could ultimately threaten security and stability regionwide. After limiting ties with Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover of the country in August 2021, Germany, on July 21, said it had allowed two envoys from Afghanistan's Taliban government to visit and facilitate Afghan migrant deportations as Berlin intensifies its efforts to curb illegal migration. Though Chancellor Friedrich Merz later clarified Germany had not moved in its refusal to diplomatically recognize the Afghan Taliban, Merz did reiterate a need to engage with the group and carry out limited "technical coordination." Berlin's decision marked the latest in a string of diplomatic victories for Afghanistan, which also saw Russia on July 3 become the first...
