The European Union has held its highest-level talks with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan since 2021, hosting a five-member Afghan delegation in Brussels to discuss migration and the return of Afghan nationals.

The June meeting followed earlier talks in Austria and came as several EU member states push for faster deportations of rejected asylum seekers and Afghans convicted of crimes.

Belgium issued one-day visas to the delegation, led by Afghan foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi.

While the European Commission insisted the talks do not constitute formal recognition of the Islamic Emirate, the meeting marked the first official engagement between EU officials and an Afghan delegation on European soil since the change of government in Kabul in 2021.

Afghan officials described the visit as historic, saying it was aimed at building confi dence, expanding diplomatic engagement and improving arrangements for the return of Afghan nationals. Kabul also renewed its call for IEA-appointed diplomats to be accepted at Afghan embassies across Europe.

Migration has become a key political issue across Europe, with many governments seeking stricter asylum policies and increased deportations. According to EU data, around one million Afghans applied for asylum in EU countries between 2013 and 2024, with roughly half of the applications approved.

European officials increasingly acknowledge that cooperation with the authorities in Kabul is necessary to manage deportations, consular services and humanitarian coordination. Germany and Austria have already held discussions with Afghan officials and have deported Afghan nationals convicted of criminal offences.

Despite the practical need for engagement, the talks remain politically sensitive. EU officials stressed the discussions were technical and should not be viewed as a step toward formal recognition.

Human rights groups and some European lawmakers warned that increased cooperation could be seen as legitimising the Islamic Emirate without securing commitments on human rights or governance.

The meeting highlights the EU’s effort to balance its migration priorities with its foreign policy principles, while the Islamic Emirate continues seeking greater international engagement despite the absence of formal diplomatic recognition.

A high-level delegation from Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), led by Chief Executive Officer Abdul Haq Hamkar, held a key meeting with Omid Mohammad Aminov, First Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, along with senior officials from Uzbekistan’s technical and engineering institutions, to discuss expanding strategic cooperation in the energy sector.

The meeting was also attended by Abdul Ghafar Bahr, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Uzbekistan, who emphasized the importance of further strengthening bilateral relations, enhancing mutual cooperation, and expanding joint efforts in the energy sector between the two countries.

During the meeting, both sides discussed the development of electricity generation, transmission, and distribution networks, strengthening technical capacities, cooperation in engineering and design, implementation of smart metering systems, long-term energy planning, and modernization of Afghanistan’s electricity sector.

The Uzbek side announced its full support for the development of Afghanistan’s energy sector, stating that reliable and sustainable electricity is essential for Afghanistan’s economic growth, mining development, and industrialization.

Uzbek officials emphasized that their cooperation with Afghanistan would not be limited to electricity exports but would also include electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and technical capacity-building initiatives.

Welcoming Uzbekistan’s proposals, DABS Chief Executive Officer Abdul Haq Hamkar said that the proposals were important and valuable for the development of Afghanistan’s energy sector.

He stressed the need for a clear and practical roadmap for bilateral cooperation to move into the implementation phase.

Hamkar said Afghanistan requires extensive technical studies in electricity generation and called for comprehensive feasibility studies for small-scale (Micro) and medium-scale (Mini) hydropower projects, as well as solar, natural gas, and coal-based electricity generation projects in different parts of the country to develop a comprehensive national energy map.

He added that Afghanistan’s goal is not only to import electricity but also to strengthen its domestic electricity generation, transmission, and distribution capacities.

According to Hamkar, technical cooperation and capacity-building in engineering, design, generation, operations, and maintenance are among Afghanistan’s key priorities.

“With a joint plan, strong technical coordination, and swift practical decisions, Afghanistan’s energy future will become brighter, and the economic ties between the two countries will be further strengthened,” Hamkar said.

The meeting also included discussions on the progress of the Surkhan–Pul-e-Khumri 500 kV Power Transmission Project. Both sides stressed the importance of accelerating the implementation of the project and pledged to address existing challenges through close technical coordination and joint efforts.

The First Deputy Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan said that a comprehensive 15-year Energy Development Plan would be prepared for Afghanistan.

He added that after completing the required technical studies and feasibility assessments, the technical specifications and estimated costs of priority projects would be shared with Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat.

At the end of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to establishing joint technical working groups, exchanging expertise and technology, strengthening technical capacities, and continuing practical cooperation to modernize Afghanistan’s energy sector.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has called for closer cooperation between Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Afghanistan, saying a historic opportunity has emerged to create a shared development space in the heart of Eurasia.

Speaking at an informal consultative meeting of Central Asian leaders and the President of Azerbaijan in Kyrgyzstan on Friday, Mirziyoyev said Central Asia should now be viewed within a broader geopolitical framework.

He said the region, which was once divided, is gradually moving toward greater cooperation around a common development agenda, while Azerbaijan’s participation expands this process beyond Central Asia.

“A historic opportunity is opening before us to create a common space for development linking Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Afghanistan. We must seize this moment to build lasting ties and good-neighborly relations in the heart of Eurasia,” Mirziyoyev said.

The Uzbek leader emphasized the importance of strengthening regional connectivity, economic cooperation and long-term relations among neighboring countries.