Belgium Issues Visas to Taliban Delegation for EU Migration Talks in Brussels

Belgium has granted visas to a Taliban delegation set to travel to Brussels for discussions with European Union officials on migration. The Taliban representatives were expected to arrive in the Belgian capital on Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the preparations cited by the Euractiv news portal. The meeting marks a rare instance of direct engagement between EU institutions and the Taliban, the Islamist movement that seized control of Afghanistan in 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces. Migration is a central concern for EU member states, as Afghanistan remains one of the top countries of origin for asylum seekers arriving in Europe. Brussels has sought to address irregular migration flows partly by engaging with origin and transit countries, even where formal diplomatic recognition is absent. The decision to issue visas to Taliban officials is likely to draw scrutiny from human rights advocates, given the Taliban government's severe restrictions on civil liberties — particularly its near-total ban on women's education and public life. The EU does not formally recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, making the Brussels visit a sensitive diplomatic undertaking with significant implications for how Europe manages its relationship with Kabul.