HRW Urges EU to Reject Taliban Migration Deal

DID Press: Human Rights Watch has urged the European Union not to sign any migration agreement with the Taliban authorities and to halt the forced return of Afghan nationals.

The organization said international law prohibits the forcible return of people to countries where they face persecution, torture or threats to their lives, arguing that Afghanistan is not currently a safe destination for deportations.

Human Rights Watch also pointed to the Taliban’s sweeping restrictions on women, girls, journalists, human rights defenders and critics, warning that many returnees risk arbitrary detention, torture, poverty, homelessness and a lack of basic services.

The rights group called on the European Union and its member states to use engagement with the Taliban to press for greater respect for human rights and accountability, rather than normalizing forced return policies.

The statement comes after a Taliban delegation met European Union officials in Brussels on 22 June, marking the group’s first official meeting with EU representatives since returning to power. The European Commission described the talks as technical and focused on migration issues, while a Taliban spokesman called them a “historic meeting” and a step toward normalizing consular relations with European countries.