Afghanistan: France acknowledges "technical discussions" with Afghan Taliban

France has officially resumed discussions with the Taliban regime to facilitate the return of Afghan nationals in irregular situations. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that technical talks are underway, citing public safety concerns. In exchange, the Taliban may establish a working group at the Afghan consulate in Paris, which remains under the control of the former regime. The French government maintains that this dialogue does not alter its stance on Afghanistan, as it has no official diplomatic relations with the Taliban, with only Russia recognizing their regime.