European governments that publicly condemn the Taliban's record on human rights are now negotiating with the group to deport Afghan nationals back to Afghanistan, according to a New York Times investigation published October 12, 2026. The finding captures a widening contradiction at the heart of Europe's migration policy: officials shun the Taliban on principle while seeking its practical help on deportations.
The Brussels Meeting That Broke the Taboo
In late June 2026, more than 20 European officials met with five Taliban representatives in Brussels to discuss how to deport Afghan nationals back to Afghanistan, according to the Times report. The meeting, led on the Taliban side by foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi, broke a long-standing taboo against holding talks with the group inside the European Union.
European officials have described the discussions as technical talks rather than a step toward formal recognition. EU migration commissioner Magnus Brunner defended the engagement, saying there was "no option not to talk" to the Taliban if Europe wanted to improve deportation rates. The Taliban side has reportedly sought concessions of its own, including control over Afghan consular offices in European countries.
France and Germany Move First
France opened a "technical dialogue" with the Taliban on October 8, 2026, aimed at facilitating the return of Afghans in an irregular situation who are deemed a threat to public order, according to AFP reporting. A French diplomatic source said the talks concern people convicted of crimes including drug trafficking or violence, and that hundreds of individuals could be involved. The source stressed the talks do not constitute an official resumption of diplomatic relations, noting that the French embassy in Kabul remains closed.
Germany is the only EU country to have carried out larger-scale deportation flights to Afghanistan since the Taliban's return to power. It resumed flights in 2024, and 228 Afghan men have been returned this legislative period since Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office, according to InfoMigrants. In June 2026, Berlin announced plans for up to three charter flights per month. France, Belgium and Sweden are among roughly 20 EU countries calling for faster returns of Afghan nationals.
Criticism From Rights Groups
Pro Asyl, the German pro-migrant association, has called the "technical talks" morally bankrupt, with its leader Helen Rezene arguing the negotiations help normalize a regime indifferent to human rights, InfoMigrants reported. France Terre d'asile spokesperson Maëlle Lena described France's move as "simply undignified," warning deported people would risk their lives on return.
Amnesty International has reported that at least one deported individual was killed after being returned to Afghanistan. And on October 5, the International Criminal Court unsealed arrest warrants against several Taliban figures over violations of women's rights, underlining the regime's international pariah status. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected the warrants, saying Afghanistan does not recognize the court.
The Numbers Behind the Pressure
Eurostat figures show the scale of Europe's deportation gap. In 2025, EU countries issued almost 492,000 orders for people to leave, while about 135,000 were actually returned — a return rate of 28 percent. In the second quarter of 2026, 36,825 people were returned, 9.7 percent more than a year earlier, while new orders to leave fell 12 percent. Orders to leave issued to Afghan citizens jumped 27 percent in the third quarter of 2025, to 5,280.
Watch: EU set to discuss deportation of Afghan refugees with Taliban — FRANCE 24 English, on the EU's planned Brussels talks with Taliban officials and the human-rights concerns about normalizing the regime.
Music in this post's reel: Kevin MacLeod - Hitman (incompetech.com), licensed under CC BY 3.0
The bottom line: European capitals face rising domestic pressure to show results on migration, and the Taliban has leverage it intends to use. What remains unresolved is whether faster deportations can be reconciled with the safeguards that Europe's own courts, rights agencies and international obligations demand — and whether technical talks today become political recognition tomorrow.