EU Plans Talks with Taliban Officials Over Deporting Afghan Migrants

Taliban officials are expected in Brussels within weeks for talks about deporting Afghan migrants from the European Union, according to diplomatic sources.

The European Commission and several member states are coordinating the visit, which follows two European trips to Afghanistan for “exploratory” discussions. The focus is on logistics: flights, capacity at Kabul airport, and what happens to those sent back.

Around 20 EU countries are exploring how to deport Afghans, especially those convicted of crimes. Germany has already deported more than 100 since 2024 via charter flights through Qatar. Austria has followed suit.

But the push raises serious concerns. Afghanistan is in the middle of a humanitarian crisis, worsened by drought and foreign aid cuts. The EU does not officially recognize the Taliban authorities, who returned to power in 2021 and enforce a strict interpretation of Islamic law.

The visit was initially planned for late March but is now set for the coming weeks. No official invitation has been sent yet. Between 2013 and 2024, EU countries received roughly one million asylum applications from Afghans.

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