A delegation of Afghanistan met for the first time with its officials, in a development that organizations denounced as an attempt to legitimize the Islamists, but which the EU defended as a step to facilitate the return of those who have been rejected.
The EU and its member states have not recognized the Taliban government since the armed group returned to power five years ago after a 20-year war against the government backed by US and NATO forces.
The EU is defending its decision
But Brussels is defending its decision to hold limited talks with Afghanistan’s “de facto authorities” as necessary to deport asylum seekers who have committed crimes or are considered dangerous.
A spokesman for the European Commission said the meeting in Brussels was attended by officials from the Commission and 15 EU member states. The meeting followed another meeting held in Kabul in January.
“The Commission services and Sweden co-chaired the technical-level meeting today in Brussels with technical-level representatives of the de facto authorities of Afghanistan responsible for returns and readmission,” the Commission representative said.
What does the Taliban Foreign Ministry say?
A spokesman for Afghanistan’s foreign ministry described the agenda as broader, saying it included a possible consular presence in the EU, the resumption of consular services for Afghans in Europe and “the need for confidence-building measures”.
The meeting created “hope for the development of positive momentum aimed at securing the consular rights of Afghans residing abroad,” added spokesman Abdul Kahar Balki.
A letter from the European Commission to Balki, seen by Reuters, said the talks would focus “on the return and readmission of Afghan nationals without the right to remain in the EU”.
Intense reactions
The visit was strongly criticized by human rights groups and several European politicians, who argued that such contacts could legitimize the regime and undermine fundamental EU values.
“Europe should not legitimize a regime responsible for one of the world’s worst human rights crises,” Afghan Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai said in a post on X.
Beyond the question of the Taliban’s legitimacy, the meeting is also causing reactions for its possible consequences.
“The most obvious and dangerous consequence is that Afghans will return from the EU and face persecution by the Taliban upon their return,” said Jeff Crisp, UNHCR’s head of policy development and evaluation and visiting researcher at the University of Oxford.
Belgium’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had issued visas that allowed the Afghan representatives to enter the country for just one day, limiting their presence to Belgian territory and not the entire EU Schengen zone.
Since returning to power, the Taliban have gradually curtailed rights, restricting women’s freedom of movement, banning girls’ education beyond primary school and implementing “morality” laws that limit freedom of expression and access to work.
