European Union plans to engage in talks with the Taliban come as reports indicate Afghan women’s rights continue to deteriorate. The articles note that while international attention is often directed elsewhere, including conflicts in the Middle East, the situation in Afghanistan remains a major ongoing crisis affecting millions of people.

The RTE News piece frames the decline in women’s rights as a continuing trend, rather than a sudden change, highlighting the broader impact on daily life and freedoms. It also places the EU’s stated intention to explore or prepare for dialogue with the Taliban in the context of Afghanistan’s human rights concerns, implying a tension between diplomatic efforts and the lived realities for women.

Across the provided material, the central points are that Afghanistan remains under Taliban control and that constraints on women have deepened over time. At the same time, the EU’s potential engagement reflects attempts by international actors to address Afghanistan through diplomacy, even as rights advocates and affected communities raise concerns about the direction of change.