Deal on repatriating rejected Afghan asylum seekers from Sweden pending

The Swedish government pledged on Friday further development assistance to Afghanistan but the countries have yet to strike a deal to ensure the return of rejected asylum seekers, local media reported.

Sweden agreed to spend 8.5 billion SEK (1 billion U.S. dollars) on issues such as women's rights, etc. over the next 10 years but the countries had not entered a return agreement for Afghans who have been denied asylum in Sweden, news agency TT reported.

"We agree that it is a mutual problem," Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said during his visit to the Swedish capital. "Our people have to feel that they have a home country, a safe home country," Ghani added.

Some 36,000 Afghani citizens have sought asylum in Sweden so far this year, over half of whom are minors who have migrated alone, news agency TT reported.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven stressed the importance of a deal ensuring that rejected asylum seekers return but said the countries had only begun the negotiation process.

"We have to find a solution that ensures that those who do not receive asylum in Sweden can find their way back to Afghanistan," Lofven said.

Swedish police are looking to forcibly deport more than 22,000 migrants who have had their applications rejected, daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter reported on Thursday. (1 U.S. dollar = 8.48 SEK) Endit