EU-Taliban talks on Afghan migrant deportations spark outrage

Afghan women and girls have faced increasing oppression since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, with restrictions on education, employment, and public life. Despite the European Parliament's previous condemnations of systematic persecution against Afghan women, the European Commission confirmed the meeting following calls from 20 member states for concrete pathways to deport Afghans without legal residence permits. The stated focus of the talks was on individuals deemed security threats, though an invitation letter reportedly referenced Afghans with no legal right to be in the EU, a distinction highlighted as a significant discrepancy.

Human rights campaigners accuse the EU of allowing the far-right's anti-immigration agenda to dictate policy, potentially endangering lives and normalizing a repressive regime. The European Parliament has seen a shift towards the right, with a record number of right-wing MEPs elected in 2024. Between 2013 and 2024, EU member states received approximately 1 million asylum applications from Afghans, with about half approved. Many Afghans fled the country fearing reprisals and persecution, particularly women who would be in grave danger if returned.

Reports indicate that Afghans returned to the country, primarily from Pakistan and Iran, have experienced arbitrary arrest, detention, torture, and ill-treatment. Furthermore, Afghanistan faces a severe humanitarian crisis, with about 40% of the population affected by hunger. The EU's hardening stance on asylum and migration is part of a broader trend, with recent updates to the EU migration and asylum pact raising concerns among human rights organizations about potential "ICE-style" practices. Spain is noted as an exception, with its government maintaining a fact-based conversation on the importance of migration amidst a looming demographic crisis.

While no official readout of the meeting has been released, the leader of the Afghan delegation indicated that discussions included the possible resumption of consular services. The implications of such diplomatic engagement, particularly in normalizing gender apartheid, are a significant concern.