Belgium Grants Visas to Taliban Delegation for EU Migration Talks

DID Press: Belgium has issued visas to five members of a Taliban delegation, enabling them to attend a migration-related meeting in Brussels, marking the first participation of Taliban representatives in an event hosted by the European Union.

Belgian authorities said the visas were granted following security assessments and are valid for only one day and exclusively within Belgian territory. The visa holders will not be permitted to travel to other countries within the Schengen Area.

According to European sources, the discussions will focus primarily on migration issues and the potential return of Afghan nationals who no longer have legal residency rights in European Union member states.

The European Commission stressed that the meeting is being held at a technical level and does not constitute formal recognition of the Taliban administration. EU officials said the talks are intended to address practical matters related to migration management and the return of Afghan migrants.

The move has drawn criticism from human rights advocates, who argue that engagement with Taliban representatives could undermine efforts to hold the group accountable for its human rights record.