Belgium issues visas to Taliban delegation for EU migration talks
Belgium has approved five visas for Taliban representatives to attend an EU-hosted migration meeting in Brussels, drawing criticism from human rights groups.
The Belgian government has issued five visas to members of a Taliban delegation to attend a European Union migration meeting in Brussels, marking the first visit by Taliban representatives to an EU-hosted event since they returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. The visas are tightly restricted: they allow entry only to Belgium, not the wider Schengen Area, and are valid for a single day. Belgian officials have refused to disclose the exact date of the visit due to security concerns, but EU sources indicate the meeting is expected to take place shortly after the visas were issued.
The talks are set to focus on migration and the possible return of Afghan nationals who do not have the right to remain in the EU. In May, the European Commission announced its intention to invite Taliban officials to Brussels for discussions on migrant returns. The EU stresses that the meeting is at a technical level and does not constitute formal recognition of the Taliban government.
Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have criticized the planned talks, arguing that engagement with the Taliban risks undermining the EU's commitment to human rights. Since regaining power, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on women and girls, including limits on education, employment, and freedom of movement.
The issue has also revealed divisions within Belgium. Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said he opposed inviting Taliban representatives but argued that Belgium could not refuse the visas because it hosts the EU's institutions and was acting on a request linked to official European business.
The talks come as European governments face growing pressure to tighten migration policies. While Afghans remain among the nationalities most likely to receive asylum protection in the EU, several member states have pushed for stricter migration controls and greater cooperation on returns for people whose applications have been rejected. Afghanistan is currently facing a humanitarian crisis, with millions facing food insecurity and economic hardship, according to the United Nations, and the country is also absorbing large numbers of returnees from neighboring Iran and Pakistan.
