EU refuses to recognise Taliban, promises help to resettle Afghan migrants

Nearly a week
after the Taliban’s violent takeover of Afghanistan, the European Union said
that it does not recognise the Taliban, a militant group that has been accused
of terrorism. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, “We may well
hear the Taliban’s words but we will measure them above all by their deeds and
actions.” The European Union president further said that the EU was not holding
political talks with the militants.

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EU’s head
executive was visiting a reception centre in Madrid for Afghan employees of
European Union institutions evacuated from Kabul. Speaking on the occasion, Von
der Leyen said that she would propose an increase of 57 million euros ($67
million) in humanitarian aid which the European Union commission had allocated
this year.

Von der
Leyen further said that the development aid by the European Union is tied to
respect for human rights, good treatment of minorities and respect for the
rights of women and girls. The EU commission president added that the
commission was ready to fund European Union nations to help resettle Afghan
refugees. She said that she plans to raise the issue of resettlement at a G7
meeting next week.

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In 2015,
when nearly a million migrants had come to the EU, mostly from Syria,
Afghanistan and Iraq, the European Union was able to reduce the number of
arrivals by striking a deal with Turkey which receives funds from the EU to
host asylum seekers in its territory.

The Taliban
took over power in Afghanistan last Sunday after ousting the western
alliance-backed civilian administration. Taliban’s seizure of power has brought
back memories of the group’s brutal rule from 1996 to 2001, a period which saw
suppression of civil rights, especially rights of women.

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This time,
after taking over power, the Taliban said that there would not be any retaliation,
that everyone is forgiven and that women will be allowed to partake in
government although in accordance with Sharia law. Despite Taliban’s claims,
there have been reports of fighters going door-to-door in search of “collaborators”,
those who either worked with the Afghan administration or the western alliance
countries.