Belgium Issues One-Day Visas to Taliban Representatives Ahead of EU Migration Talks
Belgium granted short-term visas to five Taliban members invited to Brussels for EU discussions on Afghan deportations.
Belgium has issued one-day visas to five representatives of the Taliban, the radical Islamist movement that took control of Afghanistan in 2021, to attend a European Union meeting in Brussels focused on migration and deportations to Afghanistan.
The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that these visas are strictly limited to a single day and permit the holders only to stay within Belgium's territory during their visit. The exact date of the Taliban representatives' trip to Brussels was withheld for security reasons, though sources from the EU indicate their arrival is scheduled for June 23.
EU Engagement on Afghan Deportations Amid Rising Applications
The invitation extended to the Taliban members reflects the EU's efforts to handle the complex issue of Afghan migrants who are residing in EU countries without authorization. The meeting aims to discuss technical aspects of deportation procedures, focusing particularly on those Afghans deemed security risks or ineligible to remain in EU member states.
According to Eurostat data, from 2013 through 2024, over one million asylum applications were submitted by Afghan nationals across the EU, with roughly half receiving asylum status. Afghan nationals remain the largest group filing for asylum in 2025, underscoring continued migration pressure from the region.
"This engagement marks a pragmatic approach amid complex security and humanitarian considerations," an EU official commented anonymously.
Since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, about 20 EU countries have proceeded with deportations of Afghan nationals. These actions have drawn criticism from human rights organizations, which warn that deportees may face persecution, arbitrary detention, or torture back in Afghanistan, particularly among vulnerable groups such as women, journalists, former government employees, and activists.
Germany, for instance, reported deporting over 100 Afghans since 2024 began, reflecting a broader trend in EU migration policy enforcement.
This development comes amid heightened scrutiny of migration flows and evolving sectoral policies within the EU as member states seek to balance humanitarian concerns with border security and political pressures.
