EU holds first talks with Taliban officials on migrant repatriation amid criticism
The European Union hosted a Taliban delegation for the first time on Tuesday, sparking protests from human rights groups who accuse the EU of legitimizing the Islamist group. The EU says the talks are a practical step to facilitate the return of failed asylum seekers.
For the first time, European Union officials met with a delegation from Afghanistan's Taliban government in Brussels on Tuesday. The meeting, which focused on migration issues, has drawn strong criticism from human rights organizations that argue it grants legitimacy to the Islamist group. The EU, however, defends the engagement as a necessary step to ease the repatriation of migrants whose asylum claims have been rejected. The talks mark the first high-level interaction between the EU and the Taliban since the group regained power in 2021. Despite international concerns over human rights abuses in Afghanistan, particularly regarding women and girls, EU representatives insist the dialogue is a practical measure to address migration challenges and does not imply political recognition of the Taliban.
