EU holds first talks with Taliban in Brussels on refugees' return

A delegation representing the Taliban government attended talks with the European Union (EU) in Brussels on Tuesday, marking the first formal meeting between the two sides since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021. The meeting took place amid the EU's continued non-recognition of the regime, which nonetheless argues limited technical dialogues are necessary to handle the expulsion of asylum-seekers.

According to Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the talks centered on providing consular services and facilitating 'dignified repatriation' for Afghans in Europe. He called the event 'historic,' as it marked the first time an Afghan government delegation held talks with the European Commission and member states at EU headquarters.

A European Commission spokesperson confirmed the meeting was attended by EU representatives and 15 member states. Discussions were technical in nature, focusing on the issue of 'return and reintegration' for refugees. The meeting followed a previous round in Kabul in January.

On the Afghan side, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said the broader agenda included opening a consular office in the EU, resuming consular services for Afghans there, and 'confidence-building measures.'

The EU faces pressure from many member states seeking to accelerate and increase deportations of rejected asylum applicants or those convicted of crimes. Afghans are currently one of the largest groups of asylum-seekers in the EU. Brussels emphasizes that limited dialogue with the 'de facto authorities' in Afghanistan is needed to remove individuals considered criminals or threats from European territory.

Soon after the meeting, human rights organizations strongly condemned the move, arguing it effectively legitimizes the Taliban and contradicts the EU's human rights obligations. 'Any engagement with the Taliban must prioritize human rights protection and accountability—not deporting people to danger,' said Fereshta Abbasi, a researcher at Human Rights Watch. She criticized EU countries for condemning the Taliban while cooperating to forcibly return Afghans.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai also expressed 'horror' on social media platform X, urging Europe not to legitimize a regime responsible for one of the world's worst human rights crises. 'Any dialogue with the Taliban must begin and end with the rights of Afghan women and girls,' she wrote.

Since taking power, the Taliban has imposed severe restrictions on women, including banning university education, limiting freedom of movement, and enacting a morality law that curtails employment and free expression. Despite this, the Brussels meeting is seen as a sign that the EU may be opening a pragmatic channel of dialogue with the Taliban, though no member state has recognized the regime.