Belgium Grants Limited Visas to Taliban Delegation for EU Meeting

In a tightly controlled move, Belgium has issued one-day visas to five members of the Taliban delegation, allowing them to meet with EU officials in Brussels. The visas, which were granted late on Monday, will only be valid within Belgian territory and for the duration of the meeting. According to Maxim Prévot, a spokesperson for the Belgian Foreign Minister, the decision to grant the visas was made after a security analysis found no evidence to suggest that the individuals posed a threat to Belgium. The meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, will focus on migration issues. The Taliban delegation is expected to be led by Abdul Kahar Balhi, the spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This development comes after the European Commission acknowledged that it was working towards a possible technical meeting with Afghan representatives in Brussels. The limited nature of the visas underscores the cautious approach being taken by Belgian authorities, who are allowing the meeting to take place while minimizing potential risks. By restricting the visas to Belgian territory and a single day, the government is seeking to balance its diplomatic obligations with security concerns.