EU Plans Taliban Talks on Afghan Deportations

The European Commission, in coordination with several member states, is preparing to host a technical delegation from Afghanistan's Taliban authorities in Brussels in the coming months for discussions on facilitating the deportation of Afghan nationals without legal residency in the European Union. The planned meeting, expected before summer, aims to address logistical and administrative hurdles that have stalled returns since the Taliban seized power in 2021.

The initiative follows two rounds of exploratory talks conducted by European officials in Afghanistan earlier this year, including a January visit by EU and Belgian representatives to Kabul. Those discussions focused on practical aspects such as flight arrangements, the capacity of Kabul's international airport, and procedures for receiving deportees. A formal invitation to the Taliban has not yet been issued, according to diplomatic sources involved in the preparations. The delegation will consist of technical officials rather than political leaders, ensuring the talks remain non-political and do not imply formal recognition of the Taliban government by the EU or its members.

This development reflects mounting pressure...