'Quite horrifying': Afghan economic crisis leaves EU deportees with 'very little' to return to

AI Summary

European governments are quietly expanding engagement with Taliban authorities to negotiate deportations, diplomatic representation and economic assistance, despite not formally recognizing their administration. The reporting highlights the severe economic hardship deportees face upon returning to Afghanistan, where many have very limited resources and prospects.

Europe's increasingly pragmatic engagement with Afghanistan's Taliban rulers is exposing a fundamental contradiction between diplomatic non-recognition and political necessity. In an investigation for The New York Times, Pakistan and Afghanistan bureau chief Elian Peltier reveals how European governments are quietly expanding negotiations with the Taliban over migrant deportations, diplomatic representation and economic assistance. “Even though on paper European governments do not recognise the Taliban administration, in practice they meet much more frequently than most of us know,” Peltier explains.