Taliban expected in Brussels for EU migration talks

A Taliban delegation is expected to fly into Brussels today after being granted a one-day visa to hold talks with the EU on returning failed asylum-seekers to Afghanistan.

The European Commission has invited the officials for discussions under a push to crack down on irregular migration and boost deportations — despite it not formally recognizing the Taliban administration.

The EU outreach to the Taliban authorities has drawn fierce pushback, with rights groups urging the commission to back out of the planned meeting.

A spokeswoman for the foreign minister of Belgium, which issued the documents in its capacity as host country to the European institutions, says the five requested visas were granted yesterday afternoon “after a security assessment.” They are just valid for Belgium and not the broader free-movement Schengen area and for one day only, she says.

The delegation is understood to be flying in and out of the country via Turkey.