European Union staff and members of the Afghan Taliban have met in Brussels to discuss diplomatic services and “dignified returns” of Afghans, according to a Taliban official. Afghans make up one of the largest groups of migrants seeking asylum in the European Union and efforts to return failed asylum seekers have been hindered by war and the likelihood of executions and human rights abuses.

However, a growing number of governments in the 27-nation bloc want to speed up and increase deportations for those whose claims are rejected or who commit crimes in their host countries. Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a New Zealand-born spokesman for the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs who led the five-strong delegation, said: “This was a historic visit as the first time ever that a delegation from Islamic Emirate visited the EU and held talks with member states in Brussels.”

Mr Balkhi also said they spoke about “restarting broad-range consular services for Afghans in the EU zone, including need for trust-building measures, consular presence and dignified return process”.

Afghan Taliban authorities have imposed draconian restrictions on women and girls since the Taliban seized power in the country in 2021 in the wake of the chaotic withdrawal of US-led forces.

The islamic fundamentalists have imposed bans on education beyond primary school and on employment in all but very few professions, as well as strict regulations on what women are allowed to wear in public.

Rights groups said Tuesday’s meeting undercuts the EU’s human rights obligations and could endanger people in Europe and Afghanistan.

“Any engagement with the Taliban needs to prioritise protecting human rights and accountability – not deporting people to danger there,” said Fereshta Abbasi, a researcher at Human Rights Watch.

“EU countries are undermining their credibility by condemning Taliban abuses and pursuing accountability on one hand, while co-operating with the Taliban to forcibly return Afghans on the other.”