EU has not recognized, engaged in political talks with Taliban: Top official

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) – The European Union does not recognize the Taliban and has not engaged in any political talks with the group, a top official said on Saturday.

“Of course, we have operational contact with the Taliban to discuss how we can facilitate people in Kabul reaching the airport,” Ursula von der Leyen, president of the EU Commission, said at the Torrejon Air Base in Spain, which has been set up as a logistics hub for Afghans evacuated by EU countries.

“This contact is needed and it’s good to speak if we can save lives. But this is distinct and separate from political talks,” she asserted.

Addressing a news conference along with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and European Council President Charles Michel, she said there have been increasing reports about the Taliban “hunting down” Afghans for their past work and excluding women from workplaces.

While promising humanitarian aid for Afghanistan, she said “not a single euro of development aid can go to a regime that denies women and girls their full freedoms and rights to education and careers.”

The EU has committed to send €57 million ($67 million) to Afghanistan this year, but von der Leyen said the bloc must “increase that” and “continue to support NGOs in Afghanistan.”

She stressed that it is Europe’s “moral duty” to resettle vulnerable Afghans, such as journalists and activists.

She said the issue will be a key point of discussion at next week’s G7 meeting, where the EU will push for the world’s richest countries to resettle those in need.

“We need to prevent people from falling into the hands of smugglers and human traffickers. We must offer legal and safe routes to those who need protection. For this, we must work together at a global level,” she added.​​​​​​​