The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in Austria, marking the fifth anniversary of the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, has called on Austria and the European Union to adopt a principled, coherent, and long-term policy toward the group.
The coalition stated at a press conference on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, that the expansion of “technical” cooperation with the Taliban could increase the risk of granting the group political legitimacy and practical recognition.
The coalition has called on Austria and the European Union to increase political pressure on the Taliban and to support the people of Afghanistan against the systematic violation of rights, particularly the rights of women and girls.
Representatives of civil society in Austria, including members of the Afghanistan diaspora community, have emphasized that the suppression of the people of Afghanistan should not be reinforced through political and diplomatic concessions.
They have also expressed concern over the security situation in Afghanistan and the presence of terrorist and extremist networks in the country.
These organizations have called on Europe to increase support for international accountability mechanisms and to impose targeted sanctions against Taliban officials, including for providing haven to terrorist organizations.
