(Marilena Nardi)

The Wingless Victory of Kabul_ 1 

15/08/2021 - 15/08/2026

In August 2021, thousands of people crowded into Kabul airport, attempting to flee the advancing Taliban. European capitals promised to rescue collaborators, activists, journalists, and men and women threatened by the new regime. Five years later, the trend has reversed: discussions are underway regarding how to repatriate Afghans. "Several European governments, including the Italian one, have formally urged the EU Commission to initiate a dialogue with the Taliban on repatriations," explains Reshad Jalali, advocacy director for the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE).

On June 23, a Taliban delegation met behind closed doors in

Brussels with European officials to discuss repatriations. The stated goal is to expel Afghans without the right to reside, starting with those convicted of crimes and those considered a security threat. Refugee organizations, however, fear that repatriations could also be extended to

rejected asylum seekers.

"Living in Afghanistan is like living in a kind of prison," says Jalali.