European Union officials held discussions with a delegation from the Taliban in Brussels on Tuesday, marking the first official meeting between the two entities. The talks centered on facilitating the return of Afghan nationals whose asylum requests in EU countries have been denied. Human rights organizations have strongly condemned the meeting, arguing it provides legitimacy to the Taliban regime, which has been widely criticized for its human rights record, particularly concerning women and girls. The EU defended the engagement as a pragmatic step necessary to address migration challenges and ensure safe and orderly returns. Officials stated the discussions did not constitute recognition of the Taliban government. The meeting focused solely on practical issues related to repatriation procedures and did not include political discussions. This move signals a shift towards a more direct, albeit controversial, approach to managing migration flows from Afghanistan.