Afghan Taliban hold first, closed-door talks with EU on deportations

World Afghan Taliban hold first, closed-door talks with EU on deportations June 23, 202611:34 AM ET By  The Associated Press FILE - Migrants, most of them from Afghanistan, rest at an old school used as a temporary shelter on the island of Kythira, southern Greece, Oct. 7, 2022. Thanassis Stavrakis/AP hide caption toggle caption Thanassis Stavrakis/AP BRUSSELS — A delegation from the Afghan Taliban met Tuesday with European Union staff in Brussels for closed-door talks that focused on diplomatic services and "dignified returns" of Afghans to the isolated and war-ravaged nation, said a Taliban official. Afghans make up one of the largest groups of migrants seeking asylum in the European Union, but a growing number of governments in the 27-nation bloc want to speed up and increase deportations for those whose claims are rejected or who commit crimes in their host countries. "This was a historic visit as first time ever that delegation from Islamic Emirate visited the EU and held talks with member states in Brussels," said Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a spokesperson for the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs who led the delegation of five figures. Sponsor Message Balkhi also said they spoke about "restarting broad-range consular services for Afghans in EU zone, including need for trust-building measures, consular presence and dignified return process." The meeting was held in an undisclosed location in the Belgian capital, which is also the headquarters of the EU itself and the NATO military alliance. Rights groups say meeting could endanger Afghans in and out of Europe Afghan authorities have imposed draconian restrictions on rights, particularly for women and girls, since the Taliban seized power in the country in 2021 in the wake of the chaotic withdrawal of U.S.-led forces. Rights groups said Tuesday's meeting undercuts the EU's human rights obligations and could endanger people in Europe and Afghanistan. "Any engagement with the Taliban needs to prioritize protecting...