Published on
22/06/2026 - 21:40 GMT+2
Belgium has issued visas to a Taliban delegation to attend a migration meeting in Brussels, paving the way for the first visit by Taliban representatives to an EU-hosted event since the group returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
The planned talks have already sparked criticism from human rights organisations, which argue that engaging with the Taliban risks undermining the European Union's commitment to human rights.
However, the Belgian government said it approved five visas for members of the delegation after security assessments found no evidence that the individuals posed a threat. The visas are tightly restricted, allowing entry only to Belgium, not the wider Schengen Area, and are valid for a single day.
