FT: Europe frequently communicating with Taliban to facilitate repatriations

European countries have significantly expanded official contacts with Taliban representatives, opening diplomatic doors to the West for the movement that came to power in Afghanistan four years ago, as reported by Financial Times (FT), citing sources.

Western governments and politicians are seeking greater engagement with Kabul in an attempt to address the issue of repatriating illegal migrants.

European countries, including Germany, Switzerland and Austria, have sent delegations to Afghanistan or hosted Taliban representatives this year to facilitate repatriation.

Ibrahim Benaissa, a leading analyst at the International Crisis Group based in Kabul, said that “The Taliban are very keen and eager to get integrated into the global political order. The official contacts needed to make such deals amounted to 'micro-victories that integrate them more and more into the global system,’ he noted.

The FT recalls that Russia became the first country to officially recognise the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

The Taliban, which has ruled Afghanistan since the withdrawal of US and NATO forces in 2021, is struggling to cope with multiple crises including devastating cuts to foreign aid, endemic poverty and natural disasters. Roughly 4 million Afghans have returned or been forcibly expelled from neighbouring Pakistan and Iran since 2023, according to the UN’s migration body.

By Khagan Isayev