EU, Taliban Officials To Hold Talks On Deporting Afghans: Report

Last Updated:April 21, 2026, 01:31 IST

Taliban officials plan talks in Brussels with EU on deporting Afghans without legal stay, as EU states face migration pressure.

Taliban officials plan talks in Brussels with EU on deporting Afghans without legal stay, as EU states face migration pressure. (IMAGE: REUTERS/REPRESENTATIVE)

Officials from the Taliban are expected to visit Brussels in the coming weeks for discussions with the European Union on deporting Afghan nationals who do not have the right to stay, sources told AFP.

The visit, being coordinated by the European Commission along with several member states, follows two earlier trips by European officials to Afghanistan for “exploratory” talks on the issue.

According to sources speaking to AFP, the Taliban delegation will be a “technical” team. Discussions are expected to focus on logistics, including flight operations, Kabul airport capacity, and arrangements for receiving deportees. While the visit is likely before summer, no formal invitation has yet been sent.

The push comes amid growing political pressure across Europe to tighten migration policies. Several EU countries have stepped up efforts to deport migrants without legal residency, as public sentiment on immigration shifts and right-wing parties gain ground.

Around 20 EU nations are exploring ways to return Afghans, particularly those convicted of crimes. Germany has already deported more than 100 Afghans since 2024 through charter flights facilitated by Qatar, while Austria has also initiated similar measures.

According to EU data, roughly 600,000 to 700,000 Afghan nationals are currently living across EU countries, making them one of the largest non-EU migrant groups in the bloc. Between 2013 and 2024, EU states received around one million asylum applications from Afghans, who were also the largest group of applicants last year.

However, the deportation push has raised serious concerns. Rights organisations and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees warn that Afghanistan is facing a severe humanitarian crisis, worsened by drought and sharp cuts in international aid.

The EU does not officially recognise the Taliban government, which returned to power in 2021 and has since imposed a strict interpretation of Islamic law, further complicating efforts to coordinate returns.

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