EU States Talks With Taliban Involve No Concessions or Recognition

The European Union held a meeting in Brussels with a delegation representing the Taliban and officials from 15 countries. The primary topic was the return of asylum seekers with criminal records to Afghanistan.

EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner said the talks were operational in character and did not include any concessions or political recognition for the Taliban. Brunner emphasized that the engagement stayed focused on deportation procedures.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed the matter by noting that cooperation remains confined to the lowest technical level. This cooperation serves only the goal of deporting Afghan nationals who have committed crimes while in Germany.

The European Union has outlined plans to deport asylum seekers falling into two categories back to Afghanistan.

European and Afghan parliamentarians, including members of the European Parliament and the German Bundestag, released an open letter highlighting risks. The letter cautioned that such meetings provide political legitimacy to the Taliban and advised against any deals requiring political cooperation or formal recognition.

The Taliban delegation has voiced expectations of positive developments from the discussions with the European Union.