BRUSSELS (AP) — A delegation from the Afghan Taliban met Tuesday with European Union staff in Brussels for closed-door talks that focused on diplomatic services and the “dignified returns” of Afghans to the isolated and war-ravaged nation, a Taliban official said.Afghans make up one of the largest groups of migrants seeking asylum in the EU, but a growing number of governments in the 27-nation bloc want to speed up and increase deportations for those whose claims are rejected or who commit crimes in their host countries.Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a spokesperson for the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called the visit “historic,” noting it was the first time a delegation from the Islamic Emirate held talks with the EU and EU nations in Brussels.Balkhi, who led the delegation of five, said talks focused on “trust-building measures,” the Taliban’s diplomatic presence in the EU and a “dignified return process.”
The meeting was held in an undisclosed location in the Belgian capital, where both the EU and NATO are headquartered.The Commission said it co-chaired the meeting with Sweden and that representatives from 15 of the EU’s 27 nations participated in discussions focused on easing deportations of criminals and security threats.
