European Governments Turn to Taliban to Expand Afghan Deportations

European governments that condemned Taliban restrictions on women and girls are negotiating with the group to accelerate Afghan deportations, giving Kabul leverage to seek diplomatic access and economic assistance.

Officials describe the talks as technical arrangements for removals. The Taliban see them as a route toward international acceptance, an assessment some European diplomats share.

At a June 23 meeting in Brussels, five Taliban representatives met more than 20 European officials.

The Europeans did not raise human rights abuses, according to three participants and three officials briefed on the discussions who spoke to The New York Times.

Migration Pressure Opens Doors

Sweden and the European Commission co-hosted the meeting, attended by representatives from 15 European countries, including Austria, Greece, Poland and Norway.

The Taliban requested economic assistance and a larger diplomatic presence in Europe. Their delegation subsequently held bilateral discussions with at least four countries.

EU officials say the talks targeted deportations of serious offenders and people considered security threats.

Sweden says it is working with Taliban authorities to remove 200 Afghan citizens convicted of crimes.

Rights groups warn that cooperation exposes returnees to repression and undermines Europe’s criticism of Taliban rule.

“The European Union cannot credibly condemn the Taliban’s systematic repression while engaging with them to deport Afghans into the very abuses they claim to oppose,” said Fereshta Abbasi, an Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch.

Germany Leads the Push

Germany has spearheaded the effort as Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces pressure to increase deportations.

The far-right Alternative for Germany leads national polls and has pledged to expel millions of migrants.

An agreement reached late last year enabled direct deportations to Afghanistan, replacing arrangements through third countries.

The first flight under the deal carried 20 convicted Afghan men from Leipzig to Kabul in February.

Germany’s interior ministry says 263 Afghans have been deported under Merz since May last year. Authorities have also begun removing men without criminal convictions.

Women remain largely protected: nearly 95% of Afghan women seeking asylum received protection in the first half of this year.

Taliban officials work from Afghan diplomatic missions in Berlin and Bonn to facilitate returns.

German officials describe their presence as effective recognition of Taliban governing authority, although Russia remains the only country to grant formal recognition.

France is considering a similar arrangement. Its foreign ministry says discussions concern Afghan nationals living illegally in France who pose national security risks.

Kabul Seeks Wider Concessions

The Taliban want access to more Afghan missions, funding to reintegrate deportees and broader economic support.

European governments have limited assistance to humanitarian relief, resisting development funding that could finance Taliban institutions or benefit sanctioned officials.

Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban ambassador to Qatar, argues that Europe should provide economic assistance to curb migration.

“If there is unemployment and an economic crisis in Afghanistan, Afghans will go like a flood to Europe.”

Some humanitarian organizations support broader engagement and assistance. European governments remain uneasy about appearing to endorse Taliban rule.

One European diplomat expects further concessions as domestic pressure for deportations increases, strengthening the Taliban’s negotiating position.