EU Special Envoy Gilles Bertrand Concludes Visit to Afghanistan, Wednesday, 22 April 2026

EU Special Envoy Gilles Bertrand Concludes Visit to Afghanistan, Wednesday, 22 April 2026

Kabul, Wednesday, 22 April 2026

The EU Special Envoy (EUSE) for Afghanistan, Gilles Bertrand, visited Kabul from 17 to 21 April 2026. He held exchanges with high-level representatives of the Afghan de facto authorities (dfAs), members of the diplomatic community, representatives of the United Nations and other international organisations, as well as Afghan civil society actors and non-governmental organisations.

Discussions addressed the overall security situation in Afghanistan and the broader region. Inside Afghanistan, many interlocutors underlined that public order has improved in recent years. DfA interlocutors and the EUSE discussed progress registered in fighting against ISKP (the so-called 'Islamic State in Khorasan Province'). The EUSE expressed the European Union's concern regarding the continued presence and cross-border activities of several terrorist groups of regional and potentially global reach.

Regarding tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the EUSE underlined the importance of restraint and de-escalation of the situation and the need for both parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. The EU calls on both countries to resume dialogue on their respective security concerns, including concrete measures to prevent the use of the border area to plan and launch terrorist attacks on Pakistani soil. The EU welcomes the sustained efforts by many partners of the international community to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan, including by Türkiye, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and China, who recently organised technical talks in Ürümqi. These efforts were instrumental in the Eid al-Fitr truce and contribute to regional stability.

The human rights situation featured prominently in all exchanges. The EUSE reiterated the European Union's strong concerns regarding the restrictions affecting women and girls, including their access to education, employment, and public life. These restrictions constitute major violations of international human rights standards and the international commitments of Afghanistan. They also harbour devastating long-term consequences for Afghanistan's society and economy that will take generations to repair. Afghanistan remains the only country where girls are banned from studying beyond sixth grade. The EUSE recalled that this is a major impediment to the normalisation of relations.

On all those aspects, the Special Envoy reiterated support for the UN-led international engagement, known as the Doha process, and highlighted the importance of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) as the key platform for co-ordination.

The visit was also an opportunity to discuss continued EU support to the Afghan people. Assistance is delivered through a principled approach ensuring that women are both primary beneficiaries and involved in the delivery of aid. EU support addresses health, education, resilience, and livelihoods for displaced Afghans.

The Special Envoy discussed the returns of Afghan nationals from Iran and Pakistan, emphasizing that returns should be safe, dignified, and orderly. He expressed appreciation for the dfAs' efforts in welcoming millions of returnees.

Finally, the visit reiterated the importance of a resilient private sector and the critical impact of climate change. The Special Envoy called on other donors to prioritise climate projects to mitigate potentially devastating effects. The European Union's engagement in Afghanistan remains principled, pragmatic, and focused on the needs of the Afghan people.