EU Holds First Talks With Taliban, Seeking Deportation Framework

The European Commission hosted Taliban officials in Brussels on June 23 for closed-door talks on deporting Afghan asylum seekers—the first direct diplomatic engagement between the bloc and the Taliban regime. Belgium issued five visas to enable the meeting. The EU has withheld formal recognition of the Taliban but faces pressure from roughly 20 member states exploring deportation pathways. Without an operative agreement with Kabul, enforcing removals remains nearly impossible. Rights organizations warn returnees would face a legal system operating outside international human rights frameworks.