EU hosts Taliban officials for the first time in talks on deportations

Key Points:

• A Taliban delegation held talks with the European Union in Brussels for the first time, focusing on diplomatic services and arranging "dignified returns" for Afghans in Europe, marking a historic meeting according to Taliban officials.
• The EU and its member states have not recognized the Taliban government since it regained power in 2021, but have engaged in limited talks to manage deportations of asylum seekers who commit crimes or are deemed dangerous.
• The meeting included discussions on potential consular services for Afghans in the EU and trust-building measures, with participation from EU officials and representatives of 15 member states.
• Human rights groups and activists have strongly criticized the talks, arguing they legitimize the Taliban regime and risk endangering people by facilitating deportations to Afghanistan, where severe human rights abuses persist.
• Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai condemned the EU's engagement with the Taliban, emphasizing that any interaction must prioritize the rights of Afghan women and girls amid ongoing repression under Taliban rule.