European governments discuss Afghan deportations with Taliban in Brussels; participants say human rights abuses were not raised

European officials met Taliban representatives in Brussels on June 23 to discuss deporting Afghans, with participants saying human rights abuses were not raised during the talks, The New York Times reported. More than 20 European officials and five Taliban representatives attended; Sweden and the European Commission co-hosted the meeting, which included participants from 15 European countries, among them Austria, Greece, Poland and Norway.

The Taliban sought economic assistance and a larger diplomatic presence in Europe. EU officials described the discussions as technical arrangements focused on removing serious offenders and people considered security threats. Sweden said it was working to deport 200 convicted Afghan citizens.

Rights groups warned that cooperation could expose people returned to Afghanistan to repression. European governments are also facing growing domestic pressure to increase deportations.

The Brussels meeting was the first time Taliban representatives were hosted at EU institutions since the group returned to power in 2021. The European Commission said it followed an earlier meeting in Kabul in January.