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Borrell spoke after a meeting of EU foreign ministers, called urgently after the Taliban overthrew a Western-backed Afghan government.
The Taliban regime was toppled by the military intervention of a US-led coalition two decades ago, but after its stunning return to power last weekend, the militants vowed to show mercy to their Afghan counterparts.
However, the EU, many of whom are NATO allies in fighting the movement, is concerned for its citizens in Afghanistan, as well as its local Afghan staff.
Community members fear that the Taliban, who have earned a reputation as a brutal force under their previous rule due to their strict imposed Islamist regime, may re-impose restrictions on women’s rights and lead to a new wave of migration to Europe. .
According to Borrell, Brussels “will develop a dialogue as soon as necessary to prevent a humanitarian and potentially migratory catastrophe.”
“This dialogue should also focus on measures to prevent the resumption of the presence of foreign terrorists in Afghanistan,” he added.
The Taliban is an ally of the international terrorist network Al Qaeda. Western nations fear that, despite promises by militants, Afghanistan may once again become a haven for extremists preparing attacks against them.
Borrell said that was one of the reasons Europe would have to negotiate with Kabul’s new hosts.
“It is not a question of formal recognition, it is a question of consulting them,” said the head of diplomacy.
“If I want the 400 people, Afghans and their families who work for us today in the European Union delegations, to arrive at the airport, they can understand that we have to talk to the Taliban leaders,” he explained.
“Otherwise, it will be quite difficult for them to get to the airport … Such a logistical operation would be quite complicated,” admitted Borrell.
“So we have to communicate with them. And at the same time remain very attentive to their international obligations,” he added.
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