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First Meeting Between Taliban and EU in Brussels on Afghan Returns

7 sourcesFirst reported 28 days agoUpdated 28 days ago

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A Taliban delegation met EU officials in Brussels for the first time.
The discussions focused on the potential return of Afghan migrants to their home country.
EU officials called the meeting 'technical' but it raised concerns among rights groups.
The talks were prompted by requests from 20 EU and Schengen countries.
The meeting reflects the complexities of European migration policy.

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A delegation from the Afghan Taliban met with officials from the European Union in Brussels on June 24, 2026, marking the first high-level engagement between the two parties. Discussions focused on the potential return of Afghan migrants who have been denied asylum status in EU member states. The EU portrayed the meeting as a technical dialogue aimed at facilitating the repatriation process, despite acknowledging the controversial context of engaging with the Taliban.

The meeting provoked strong reactions from rights groups, which criticized the EU's initiative as a means of legitimizing the Taliban's authority. Activists argue that dialogues of this nature could undermine support for Afghan refugees and migrants seeking asylum in Europe. The EU, however, defended its actions as a pragmatic approach to addressing the complexities of migration policy within its borders.

This encounter underscores a significant shift in European migration strategy and highlights the difficult balance between humanitarian values and political realism. The Taliban representatives described their discussions as "constructive," but the event has ignited a deeper debate regarding the implications of engaging with such a regime in efforts to manage migration challenges.

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24 June

EU officials held talks with the Taliban in Brussels regarding migrant issues, amidst protests from rights organizations.

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First Meeting Between Taliban and EU in Brussels on Afghan Returns

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