Belgium in talks with Taliban over returning criminal and undocumented Afghans
Belgium took part in talks with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan last week on the possible return of criminal and undocumented Afghans.
Freddy Roosemont, director general of the Immigration Office, travelled to Kabul as a representative of a bloc of 20 European member states to negotiate the forced return of Afghans.
After returning, he told Het Laatste Niuews that the talks had lasted three days and involved officials from the Afghan ministries of foreign affairs and the interior, as well as intelligence services. According to Roosemont, the Afghan authorities are now willing to assist in identifying undocumented compatriots living in Europe.
Technical, not political
According to Het Laatste Nieuws, the Taliban regime appears prepared to cooperate extensively with European countries on the return of Afghans. The talks were “clearly a technical mission”, said Asylum and Migration minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt (N-VA), who deliberately did not take part. No politicians were present, and there were no discussions with the Taliban ministers of the interior or foreign affairs.
In a press release issued on Saturday morning, Van Bossuyt’s office confirmed that Belgium had participated in an “exploratory administrative mission” to Afghanistan. The mission was organised by the European Commission, partly at the minister’s initiative.
"There are several regimes with completely different views on humanity and the world with whom we must cooperate administratively"
“The focus of the mission is on resuming technical cooperation with the Afghan authorities at the administrative level, including identification for both voluntary and forced return,” the statement said. Cases involving undocumented criminals must be prioritised, she added.
“Naturally, Belgium has no affinity with the regime in Afghanistan,” Van Bossuyt said. “But in the international context, there are several regimes with completely different views on humanity and the world with whom we must cooperate administratively for the sake of return contacts.”
No forced return
“We will, of course, not forcibly deport anyone who is entitled to asylum, such as a large group of Afghan women or minors,” she added. At present, 2,635 Afghans remain in Belgian reception centres.
Opposition party Groen has criticised the approach, accusing Van Bossuyt of being “incoherent”. “You cannot simultaneously claim that the Taliban regime is trampling on our values and actively cooperate in deporting people there,” said Groen MP Matti Vandemaele in a press release.
He described the potential collaboration as “a slap in the face to the thousands of victims of the Taliban regime and all the women who are oppressed there daily.”
Gathering of Afghan refugees and organisations at Brussels Central station in 2022 ©BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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