EU Initiates Technical Talks with Taliban for Deportation of Rejected Asylum Seekers (english.elpais.com)

• EU opens technical channels with Taliban for deportation of rejected asylum seekers
• Cooperation focuses on identity verification and travel documentation
• Critics warn of legitimizing Taliban; EU insists on purely technical nature

"The European Union has opened channels of technical cooperation with the Taliban administration in Afghanistan to facilitate the deportation of Afghan nationals whose asylum applications have been rejected. This move marks a pragmatic shift in EU migration policy, prioritizing increased return rates over political considerations. The cooperation involves sharing data and coordinating logistics for forced returns. Critics argue it legitimizes the Taliban regime, while EU officials emphasize it is purely technical and focused on migration management. The development underscores the EU's struggle to balance humanitarian obligations with domestic political pressures to curb irregular migration."