The European Union (EU) plans to invite representatives of the Taliban to Brussels for discussions on the deportation of Afghan asylum seekers. An EU spokesperson stated that a specific date for the talks has not yet been set. This invitation marks the first official visit of Taliban representatives to the EU.
However, the negotiations face criticism as Western nations do not recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. The EU spokesperson emphasized that the invitation does not constitute diplomatic recognition of the Taliban regime. The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan through violence and violate fundamental human rights standards.
In the past, Germany has already deported criminals to Afghanistan, which has faced opposition. While European law permits the deportation of migrants deemed a security risk or who have committed crimes, such deportations are practically unfeasible due to the lack of diplomatic relations with the Taliban.
Human rights organizations criticize the deportations as unlawful, especially since the German government had previously made commitments to accept Afghan helpers and their families. According to information from the Left Party, there are currently 501 lawsuits against the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf) regarding revoked acceptance promises.
Before the Taliban takeover five years ago, the Afghan government was supported by US and NATO troops for two decades. Since then, hundreds of thousands of Afghans have sought asylum in Europe from Taliban rule, which has severely restricted the basic rights of all residents, particularly the rights of women.
