By Amina Ismail and Inti LandauroBRUSSELS, June 23 (Reuters) - A delegation from Afghanistan's Taliban met on Tuesday with EU officials in Brussels for the first time, an event rights groups denounced as legitimising the Islamists but the EU has defended as a step to make it easier to repatriate failed asylum seekers.The EU and its member countries have not recognised the Taliban government since the militant group returned to power five years ago after 20 years of war against a government backed by a U.S.-led NATO force.

The meeting is expected to focus on ways to deport some Afghan migrants, despite warnings from rights groups that such engagement could put them at risk.

The EU is preparing to host Taliban representatives for the first time since the group's return to power in Afghanistan. #EuropeNews

Brussels to host Taliban for talks on return of Afghans posing security threat in Europe