EU to Invite Taliban Officials to Brussels for Talks on Afghan Migrant Returns
The European Commission has announced plans to invite Taliban officials to Brussels for discussions on the return of Afghan migrants. According to the French Press Agency, a letter will soon be sent to Kabul to set a date for the meeting in the Belgian capital. The exact date of the meeting has not yet been announced.
A European Commission spokesperson stated that the institution is working on organizing a technical meeting with representatives of the Taliban administration. This meeting will be coordinated with Sweden and will continue the talks initiated during two previous visits by European officials to Afghanistan.
According to the report, about 20 European Union member states, within the framework of stricter migration policies, are seeking mechanisms to facilitate the return of Afghan migrants, particularly those with “criminal convictions.” Several European countries also sent a letter in October requesting that the EU explore diplomatic and practical ways to advance this process.
These developments come amid reports that since 2023, over five million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan to Afghanistan, with a large proportion being forcibly expelled. At the same time, concerns about the human rights situation and widespread restrictions in Afghanistan under Taliban rule remain; issues that could affect the fate of returnees and their access to essential services. The Taliban administration has yet to respond to the EU’s invitation.
