The European Union may invite Taliban representatives to Brussels.
CIS countries are considering the possibility of returning migrants who have committed crimes to Afghanistan.
The European Union plans to hold negotiations in Brussels with Taliban representatives on the issue of returning migrants to Afghanistan. France 24 reported this, citing the AFP news agency.
It is reported that an official letter will be sent to Kabul in the coming days to agree on a meeting date. The negotiations are being organized in cooperation with Sweden and represent the next stage following two trips by European officials to Afghanistan.
According to a European Commission representative, the parties are currently discussing the possibility of holding a technical-level meeting in Brussels with representatives of the current authorities in Afghanistan. The exact date of the visit has not yet been set.
Nearly 20 European Union countries, which have been tightening migration policies in recent years, are considering the possibility of returning migrants, particularly those who have committed crimes, to Afghanistan. For this purpose, a technical meeting was also held in Kabul in January 2026.
However, such negotiations are causing a number of controversies because the Taliban is not officially recognized by the European Union.
Nevertheless, it is said that the Belgian government is ready to grant special permission to Taliban representatives who may come to Brussels.
Meanwhile, a severe humanitarian situation persists in Afghanistan. According to international organizations, more than five million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan since 2023, the majority of whom live without housing or jobs.
According to European Union statistics, between 2013 and 2024, EU member states received nearly one million asylum applications from Afghan citizens. In 2025, Afghans also constituted the largest share among asylum seekers.
One of the most active countries in this regard is Germany. Since 2024, Berlin has deported over 100 convicted Afghans via charter flights mediated by Qatar.
Public sentiment in the country has become increasingly tense in recent years following a series of deadly attacks committed by Afghans, including an incident last year in Munich where a car plowed into a crowd.
Austria has taken a similar path, receiving a delegation of Taliban representatives in Vienna in mid-September.
A number of other European Union countries, such as Belgium and Sweden, are also considering repeating this experience, supported by politicians with a tough stance on migration.
However, organizations dealing with migration rights warn that returning Afghans to a country suffering from a severe socio-economic situation could endanger people's lives.
