ISLAMABAD: The European Union (EU) held its first-ever official talks with Taliban officials in Brussels a few days back. Symbolically Belgium granted only one-day visas to a five-member Taliban delegation. The discussions focused primarily on the deportation of Afghan migrants whose asylum claims were rejected and restarting basic consular services.
The EU clarified that these were purely "technical
contacts" with Afghanistan's de
facto authorities, and nothing said about any
agreement or understanding between the two sides.
When the Taliban captured Kabul in 1996 and declared the
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, no European country recognized their
government. Severe restrictions on women's rights, public executions, and the
Taliban's ties to extremist groups were among the primary reasons European
governments refused to establish formal relations or grant diplomatic
recognition. Relations between Afghanistan and Europe were managed largely
through the United Nations, humanitarian assistance programs, and international
aid organizations rather than through state-to-state channels.
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the U.S.-led
coalition removed the Taliban from power, and Afghanistan entered a period of
extensive international engagement. Over two decades, the European Union and
its member states invested billions of euros in schools, hospitals, roads,
government institutions, and security forces, aiming to transform Afghanistan
into a stable, self-reliant, and democratic state.
Migration and Europe's Role
Despite this assistance, Afghanistan remained a major source
of migration to Europe. War, insecurity, and economic hardship forced thousands
of Afghans to seek refuge across the continent, making Afghan migration a
significant domestic political issue in many European countries. During the
period of the Afghan Republic, European governments maintained agreements with
Kabul allowing rejected asylum seekers to be returned arrangements made
possible by the Afghan government's international legitimacy and formal diplomatic
standing.
The 2021 Shift and the Policy of "Engagement Without
Recognition"
The collapse of Afghanistan's republican government in
August 2021 brought the Taliban back to power. While European countries refused
to recognize the new Taliban government, they also acknowledged that completely
severing ties was impractical. The EU adopted a policy of "Engagement
Without Recognition" maintaining contacts with Taliban representatives
only on practical and technical matters, including humanitarian assistance,
migration management, consular services, travel documentation, and security
cooperation.
The EU has repeatedly stated that formal recognition or
normalization of relations would require the Taliban to respect human rights,
allow girls to attend schools, permit women to work, combat terrorism, and
establish a more inclusive political system. To date, the Taliban have not
taken sufficient steps to meet these conditions.
The Brussels Meeting of 2026
On June 23, 2026, a Taliban delegation traveled to Brussels
for the first time since returning to power. The delegation met with EU
officials and representatives from approximately 15 member states. Led by
Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi, discussions covered the
return of rejected Afghan asylum seekers, identity verification procedures,
travel documents, consular services, challenges facing Afghan migrants, and
confidence-building measures.
The European Union stressed that the meeting did not
constitute recognition of the Taliban government, presenting it instead as a
practical necessity to address shared challenges. European governments continue
to seek Taliban cooperation on migration management, countering the ISIS-K
threat, and improving Afghanistan's humanitarian situation. Since 2021, the EU
has allocated more than €1.7 billion in humanitarian and development assistance
for Afghanistan, delivered through the UN and international aid organizations
rather than Taliban institutions.
The Taliban's Search for Legitimacy
The Taliban portrayed the Brussels meeting as a significant
diplomatic achievement. Abdul Qahar Balkhi described the visit as
"historic," noting it was the first time Taliban representatives had
held official discussions with European officials at the heart of the EU.
Balkhi said talks focused on consular services, issues affecting Afghans living
in Europe, and opportunities for future cooperation.
Another Taliban official, Zakir Jalaly, also described the
meeting as "an important step toward expanding Afghanistan's international
relations." For the Taliban, who remain largely isolated internationally
and subject to various sanctions, such engagements are viewed as opportunities
to reduce diplomatic isolation and gain greater international legitimacy.
Ongoing Challenges
Former Pakistani Ambassador to Afghanistan Mohammad Asif
Durrani argues that engagement with the Taliban should be viewed primarily
through the lens of practical necessity rather than political legitimacy.
According to Durrani, diplomatic and consular contacts are essential for
providing services to Afghan citizens — passport renewals, identity
verification, official documentation, and assistance for Afghans living abroad
cannot be managed effectively without some level of communication with the de
facto authorities in Kabul. He further argued that although the Taliban have
not met all international expectations, they remain Afghanistan's effective
rulers, making a degree of engagement unavoidable.
Afghan journalist Sami Yousafzai highlights another critical
dimension: migration and deportation policy. According to Mr Yousafzai, the
number of Afghans arriving in Europe increased significantly after the
Taliban's return to power in 2021, creating new challenges for European
governments. Particularly sensitive are questions around Afghan nationals
convicted of crimes in European countries — deportation, repatriation, and
verification of citizenship documents have become key agenda items in
EU-Taliban discussions.
Criticism and Opposition
The Brussels meeting generated considerable criticism. The
European Parliament has repeatedly condemned Taliban policies, describing the
situation facing Afghan women and girls as a form of "gender
apartheid." Before the meeting, forty-seven members of the European Parliament
sent a letter to the Belgian government warning that granting visas to Taliban
representatives could provide them with a degree of legitimacy they have not
earned.
Several European politicians argued that sacrificing core
foreign policy principles for migration agreements could damage Europe's
credibility and security. Human rights organizations, Afghan women's groups,
and international activists also expressed concern, arguing that hosting
Taliban representatives sends the wrong message while millions of Afghan women
and girls continue to face severe restrictions on education, employment, and
public participation. Some activists further warned that deportation and
repatriation agreements could expose vulnerable Afghans to additional risks
upon return.
What the EU Gained:
- Deportation
Frameworks: The EU secured a dialogue to address the repatriation and
readmission of Afghan nationals who had their asylum claims rejected or
who have committed crimes in Europe.
- Practical
Migration Control: With growing domestic political pressure across
member states to reduce irregular migration, the EU established a
technical channel to discuss travel documentation and the "dignified
return" of migrants.
- Security
Assessments: The bloc gained a direct line of communication to discuss
individuals posing security threats.
What the Taliban Gained:
- Diplomatic
Legitimacy: By securing visas to enter Belgium and sitting down with
European Commission staff and 15 member states, the Taliban gained international
visibility.
- Consular Representation: The Taliban utilized the meeting to push for restarting consular services and representation for the Afghan diaspora in Europe.
A European Commission spokesman said that the meeting focused on returning irregular migrants “who have committed serious crimes or pose a security threat”. But Euronews reported that the invitation to the Taliban mentioned only the return of “Afghan nationals with no right to stay in the EU”.
A UN report published last November concluded that Afghanistan does not have the capacity to absorb returning nationals into its local communities due to the country’s severe conditions.
Amid scathing criticism from human rights defenders, these discussions are unfolding against the backdrop of Afghanistan's continuing economic difficulties, limited employment opportunities, educational restrictions, and ongoing security concerns — conditions that analysts warn will make the reintegration of returned Afghans a major ongoing challenge.
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