A delegation from the Afghan Taliban is expected to travel to Brussels on Tuesday for talks with European Union officials on migration policy, following the issuance of a one-day visa by Belgian authorities. The discussions are centered on the return of Afghan nationals whose asylum applications in Europe have been rejected.
The European Commission has invited the representatives as part of its broader effort to tighten control over irregular migration and increase deportations. However, the EU does not formally recognize the Taliban administration that took power in Kabul in 2021.
Belgium, acting as host country for EU institutions, approved five visas after conducting a security review. Officials confirmed the permits are strictly limited to Belgian territory, are valid for a single day, and do not allow access to the wider Schengen area. The timing of the delegation’s arrival has not been officially disclosed, though reports suggest the meeting is scheduled for Tuesday. The group is believed to be traveling through Turkey.
The outreach has triggered strong criticism from human rights organizations, who argue that engagement of this kind undermines the EU’s stated principles. “EU countries are undermining their credibility by condemning Taliban abuses and pursuing accountability on one hand, while cooperating with the Taliban to forcibly return Afghans on the other,” said Fereshta Abbasi of Human Rights Watch.
