Massoud Foundation Voices Concern Over EU Invitation to Taliban Representatives
The Massoud Foundation has expressed concern over reports that representatives of the Taliban administration have been invited by the European Commission to participate in technical talks on migrant deportations and migration cooperation.
On Monday, June 22, the Foundation stated that Afghanistan under Taliban rule lacks a legitimate and accountable system, and its citizens face serious threats in various areas, including physical, psychological, economic, and social security. The statement emphasized that under such conditions, any decision regarding the return of refugees could put them at risk.
The Massoud Foundation also reminded that the Taliban leader and the head of the group’s judiciary face charges of crimes against humanity and have arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court. Several senior officials of the Taliban are also listed under United Nations sanctions. The Foundation believes these facts highlight the legal and political isolation of the Taliban administration internationally.
The statement further noted that over recent years, United Nations Security Council resolutions have repeatedly condemned the actions and activities of the Taliban and warned of their connections with international extremist networks.
The Massoud Foundation has called on the European Commission to refrain from any interaction, compromise, or normalization of relations with the Taliban administration and not to return Afghan refugees to a country that, according to the Foundation, lacks security and a legitimate governing structure. The Foundation stressed that decisions regarding the fate of migrants must take into account the human rights and security situation in Afghanistan.
