Zakir Jalali, the Second Political Director at the Taliban-run Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has said that the visit of a Taliban delegation to Brussels marks an important step toward strengthening relations between the Taliban administration and the European Union.
He emphasized that this is the first time an official delegation of the Taliban government has traveled to Brussels and expressed hope that the visit will contribute to the expansion of practical cooperation and improved consular services based on mutual respect and shared interests.
Meanwhile, Belgium’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it granted visas to a five-member Taliban delegation to participate in a meeting with the European Union on migration-related issues.
At the same time, the visit has sparked mixed reactions and generated debate among political circles.
Hannah Neumann, a member of the European Parliament, strongly criticized the recent meeting between the European Commission and Taliban representatives in Brussels, describing it as a “shameful” move. She argued that the Taliban are not seeking technical discussions with the European Union, but rather attempting to gain international legitimacy through such engagements.
