European officials held Brussels talks with Taliban on deportations
Why it matters: The late-June meeting broke an EU taboo as governments face pressure to speed returns of Afghan migrants.
More than 20 European officials met five Taliban representatives in Brussels in late June to discuss deportations to Afghanistan, a step that crossed a longstanding European taboo on direct engagement with the group. European governments have largely avoided formal contact with the Taliban because of its severe restrictions on women and girls. But pressure to look tougher on migration has pushed some capitals to return Afghan refugees and seek arrangements that could make expulsions easier. The meeting underscored how migration politics in Europe are reshaping policy toward Afghanistan despite broader objections to Taliban rule.