Malala Questions EU-Taliban Dialogue, Urges Priority For Afghan Women And Girls

Malala Questions EU’s Taliban Outreach, Urges Focus On Afghan Women’s Rights

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has criticised the European Union for hosting a Taliban delegation in Brussels, saying any engagement with the regime must be centred on the rights of Afghan women and girls. In a video message shared on X, Malala said she was “shaken and deeply disturbed” by the EU’s decision to hold talks with Taliban officials, warning that such interactions risk legitimising a government accused of systematically restricting women’s freedoms.

Calling attention to the Taliban’s policies since returning to power, Malala said Afghan girls have been barred from secondary education, women have been pushed out of public life, and those challenging the regime continue to face intimidation and punishment.

“The same Taliban that bans girls from school and arrests women for defying its rules is now being welcomed for talks,” she said. Malala argued that the Taliban’s treatment of women amounts to “gender apartheid” and urged European leaders not to overlook the issue while pursuing other policy objectives.

“Europe must not legitimise a regime responsible for one of the worst human rights crises in the world,” she said. “Any engagement with the Taliban must begin and end with the rights of Afghan women and girls.”

EU Hosts Rare Meeting With Taliban Delegation

Malala’s comments came after Taliban representatives attended a rare meeting with European Union officials in Brussels on Tuesday. The talks, which included representatives from 15 EU member states and were co-chaired by Sweden, focused primarily on migration issues and the return of Afghan nationals whose asylum applications in Europe have been rejected.

While the EU has not formally recognised the Taliban administration, the European Commission invited a five-member Taliban delegation as part of efforts to improve cooperation on deportation procedures and migration management.

According to EU officials, discussions covered the return of Afghans convicted of serious crimes or considered security risks, as well as practical matters such as travel documents and identity verification. Taliban foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said the meeting sought to improve engagement with European countries and address challenges faced by Afghans living abroad, including those facing deportation after failed asylum claims.

The talks have drawn criticism from rights groups and activists, who argue that any dialogue with the Taliban should be accompanied by sustained pressure on the regime over its treatment of women and girls.