The European Union is set to host Taliban officials in Brussels for migration talks focused on the return of Afghan nationals who do not have the right to remain in EU member states, marking the first time the bloc has hosted representatives of the group since it returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Belgium granted five one-day visas to a Taliban delegation following a security assessment, allowing the officials to attend discussions organized by the European Commission.
The meeting is expected to take place on Tuesday and will address irregular migration from Afghanistan as well as the deportation of Afghan asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected across the 27-member bloc.
According to a letter addressed to Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the discussions will focus on the “return and readmission of Afghan nationals without a right to stay in the European Union”.
The European Commission said the initiative responds to requests from member states seeking ways to return individuals who have committed serious crimes or are considered security threats.
Commission spokesman Markus Lammert said the focus is “very much on persons who have committed serious crimes or who pose a security threat”.
EU officials emphasized that hosting the talks does not constitute formal recognition of the Taliban administration.
Earlier this month, EU migration chief Magnus Brunner defended the engagement, arguing that dialogue with Taliban authorities was necessary to address returns of irregular migrants.
Around 20 EU member states have expressed interest in returning some Afghan migrants without legal status, particularly those with criminal convictions.
The planned talks have drawn criticism from human rights organizations, which argue that cooperation with Taliban authorities undermines the EU’s commitment to human rights and accountability.
Rights groups have urged Brussels to abandon the discussions, citing Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis and restrictions imposed since the Taliban returned to power.
Fereshta Abbasi of Human Rights Watch warned that engagement should prioritize human rights rather than deportations.
Amnesty International also criticized potential returns, pointing to deteriorating conditions in Afghanistan.
The United Nations World Food Programme estimates that more than 17 million Afghans face food insecurity, while the country continues to absorb large numbers of returnees from neighboring states.
The migration debate comes as European governments pursue tougher policies amid shifting public attitudes and increasing political pressure over migration across the continent.