Pakistan, Oct. 8 -- France has begun talks with Afghanistan's Taliban government to facilitate the deportation of Afghan citizens, a diplomatic source said Wednesday. The discussions focus on Afghans living in France without legal status who are considered a public-order concern.

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France has maintained no diplomatic relations with the Taliban since the group returned to power in August 2021. Its embassy in Kabul also remains closed. However, France has joined around 20 European countries seeking faster returns of Afghan nationals, particularly those convicted by courts.

A French diplomatic source said the talks are technical and aim to arrange direct...