EU Lawmaker: Taliban Aim to Gain Legitimacy via Brussels Talks

DID Press: Member of the European Parliament Hanna Neumann has criticized plans by the European Union to host representatives of the Taliban in Brussels, arguing that the group is seeking international legitimacy through such engagements.

Neumann said that if discussions with the Taliban are strictly technical—focused on migration and the return of Afghan asylum seekers—they should take place in Kabul rather than in a European capital.

She stated that the Taliban aim to gain political recognition through meetings in Brussels, adding that such encounters provide them with visibility, diplomatic symbolism, and international exposure.

The European Commission has invited Taliban representatives to participate in meetings related to migration management and the return of Afghan nationals without legal residency in Europe. EU officials have stressed that these talks are purely technical and do not imply recognition of the Taliban government.

However, the initiative has drawn criticism from several European lawmakers and human rights advocates, who warn that hosting Taliban representatives in Brussels could contribute to the normalization of relations with a government that remains unrecognized internationally.

Neumann also pointed to the human rights situation in Afghanistan under the Taliban, saying conditions have deteriorated significantly, particularly for women and girls. She added that governance issues remain unresolved and questioned the rationale for deepening engagement at this stage.

The MEP, who has visited Afghanistan twice since the Taliban takeover, said the situation has worsened compared to her earlier visits in 2022 and 2023.

She emphasized that while dialogue with the Taliban is not inherently wrong, granting them a platform in European capitals and providing diplomatic visibility is a fundamentally different matter.