EU Envoy Meets Taliban Official to Discuss Security, Humanitarian Aid, and Drug Control
Gilles Bertrand, the newly appointed European Union Special Representative for Afghanistan, has met with Mohammad Nabi Omari, First Deputy Minister of the Interior under the Taliban administration, to discuss key issues including the current situation in the country, social stability, and the ongoing security process. Bertrand was accompanied by a delegation during the meeting.
According to a statement from the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Interior, the two sides also exchanged views on efforts to curb drug cultivation and trafficking, as well as alternative livelihood programs for vulnerable communities in Afghanistan.
Omari expressed appreciation for the EU’s continued humanitarian assistance and called for sustained cooperation in the return and support of Afghan refugees. He also emphasized the international community’s role in Afghanistan’s economic reconstruction and the need to reduce dependence on illicit revenues.
The EU envoy reiterated the bloc’s commitment to providing humanitarian aid and supporting Afghanistan’s stability. However, observers note that the lack of human rights guarantees and restrictions imposed by the Taliban administration remain major obstacles to establishing sustainable relations with the global community. In previous meetings, the European Union has repeatedly called for the respect of women’s rights, freedom of the press, and genuine participation of all ethnic groups in the country’s power structure.
