Brussels, Belgium – An Afghan official confirmed that a Taliban delegation held what he described as “constructive” talks with European Union officials in Brussels.
The talks took place within the framework of discussions focused on the repatriation of Afghan migrants
whose asylum applications have been rejected in European countries.
This comes amid ongoing debate about the nature of the engagement between the two sides.
Exceptional visas for talks
The Taliban delegation arrived in Brussels after its members received limited,
one-day visas issued by Belgian authorities, the host country for the European Union institutions.
Brussels explained that the visas were granted following a security assessment.
It confirmed that their validity is limited to Belgian territory and does not extend to the Schengen Area.
Reports indicate that the delegation traveled via Turkey to participate in the meetings.
These meetings were convened by the European Commission as part of its efforts to curb irregular migration.
The meetings also aim to expedite the return of migrants who do not have the right to remain in EU countries.
Human rights controversy over contact with the Taliban
The European move drew widespread criticism from human rights organizations,
which argued that engaging with the Taliban contradicted the EU’s stated positions on the human rights situation in Afghanistan,
particularly regarding the rights of women and girls.
In response, the European Commission and EU member states emphasized
that hosting Taliban officials did not constitute formal recognition of the government in Kabul.
They asserted that the contacts were solely focused on addressing migration issues and managing deportation cases.
The immigration issue is a top priority
This move comes amid increasingly stringent immigration policies in several European countries. It coincides with growing political pressure to return migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected, particularly those with criminal records or those deemed a security threat by authorities.
European data indicates that EU countries received approximately one million asylum applications from Afghan nationals between 2013 and 2014. They granted nearly half of these applications.
Furthermore, most member states have expressed interest in exploring mechanisms for returning some migrants to Afghanistan, despite legal and humanitarian concerns related to the country’s dire economic and humanitarian situation.
