Belgium grants visas to Taliban delegation for Brussels migration talks

The Belgian Foreign Ministry confirmed the visas carry limited territorial validity, restricting the delegation's movement solely to Belgian soil for a single day. While the European Commission insists the discussions are strictly technical and do not equate to formal diplomatic recognition, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from international advocacy groups. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have urged the EU to abandon the talks, citing the Taliban’s ongoing suppression of women’s rights, restrictions on education, and the enforcement of morality laws that limit public expression.

Fereshta Abbasi, an Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch, warned that engagement must prioritize human rights protections rather than deportation logistics. The EU faces a complex challenge regarding Afghan asylum seekers, as migration policies tighten despite the country’s deepening humanitarian crisis. According to the U.N. World Food Programme, over 17 million Afghans face severe food insecurity. Although European law permits the deportation of individuals deemed security threats or convicted of serious crimes, the absence of formal diplomatic ties has historically hampered such returns. The EU has not released the names of the visiting officials, some of whom remain subject to existing European sanctions.