The news website Euractiv reported that Belgium will issue visas to a Taliban delegation but, due to domestic political sensitivities, will not send an invitation letter. The report added that the invitation will instead be issued by the European Commission.
According to the report, the planned delegation is expected to travel to Brussels, the capital of Belgium, in the coming weeks for talks on the deportation of Afghan migrants from the European Union.
A spokesperson for Belgium’s foreign ministry told Euractiv that the country does not have diplomatic relations with the Taliban and will not invite their representatives at any level.
The report said Belgian law may oblige the country to facilitate European Union meetings on its territory. The spokesperson added that the European Commission has not yet made such a request.
Three EU officials said the planned talks in Brussels would be “strictly technical” in nature, and that Taliban political representatives would not take part, in order to avoid the perception that the group’s rule is being recognized.
According to Euractiv, the talks are expected to be held in a neutral venue, such as a hotel, rather than at official EU premises.
The report added that the discussions are expected to focus on practical mechanisms of cooperation, including identifying Afghan migrants eligible for deportation and issuing them travel documents.
A source said the European Commission initially resisted issuing an invitation on its own, but changed its position after Sweden expressed readiness to support the initiative.
An EU official said the invitation is expected to be sent in the coming weeks by the European Commission with Sweden’s backing.
Belgium led an initiative in October 2025, supported by 19 countries, calling for greater EU-level coordination on deporting “irregular and criminal” Afghan migrants.
Hosting Taliban representatives remains controversial due to the group’s policies and human rights record.
