BRUSSELS: Belgium said on Monday it had issued five visas to a Taliban delegation to attend an EU meeting on migration in Brussels, in what would be the first time the EU has hosted the group since the Islamists returned to power in Afghanistan five years ago.
The visas are restricted in both geographical scope and duration, allowing travel only to Belgium and for a single day, a Belgian foreign ministry spokesperson said, adding that the date of the visit would not be disclosed for security reasons.
Two European officials said the delegation had been granted one-day visas valid only on Tuesday, June 23.
The Commission last month invited Taliban officials to Brussels to discuss deportations of Afghan migrants, despite warnings from human rights groups that such engagement could put Afghans at risk and undermine core EU values.
The Commission said the meeting is technical and does not constitute recognition of Taliban rule.
