Dr. Ashraf Ghani

(Message on World Refugee Day)

Keypoints:

Refugee Return: Millions of refugees have returned; repatriation continues.
IDPs: Programs aim to restore displaced citizens to their homes.
Regional Diplomacy: Cooperation with neighbors ensures refugee rights.
Property and Infrastructure: Resolve land disputes and rebuild returnee areas.
Labor Migration: Strengthen consulates and protect citizens abroad.
International Engagement: Appeal to partners to safeguard refugee rights.
Return Momentum: Repatriation rates have accelerated significantly.
National Unity: Afghanistan as a secure homeland for all citizens.

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

World Refugee Day, observed on the 30th of Jawza, holds profound significance for the government and people of Afghanistan. Our nation is one whose history has been marked by the migration of millions of its citizens across the globe. Although six million of our refugees have returned over the past fifteen years—the majority of whom have successfully rebuilt their lives—millions more continue to reside abroad.

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the Hundred-Day Plan

Our ultimate objective must be to ensure that no Afghan is ever again forced to abandon their home and village. Currently, we face the challenge of hundreds of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) within our borders, scattered and distressed by the ravages of war and injustice. While national and international organizations provide emergency relief, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation (MoRR) has integrated a comprehensive study of IDPs into its "Hundred-Day Plan." This initiative aims to conduct precise surveys and studies to determine the necessary pathways for these citizens to return to their ancestral homes. Delivering aid and eliminating the root causes of displacement remain among our most critical mandates.

Regional Diplomacy and Refugee Rights

Over ninety-five percent of Afghan refugees reside in our neighboring countries, Iran and Pakistan. I express my gratitude to the peoples and governments of both nations for hosting millions of our compatriots. I also thank the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations for their steadfast support during our most arduous periods.

During my recent visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran, both parties reached a consensus to establish a Joint Committee to oversee refugee affairs and address their grievances. I particularly wish to thank the Supreme Leader of Iran for his decree ensuring that Afghan refugee children are granted the right to enroll in schools. We remain in active diplomatic communication regarding voluntary repatriation, residency extensions, and the issuance of work permits.

Similarly, we thank the Pakistani authorities for their agreement to register undocumented refugees whose lack of legal status creates immense challenges. This registration process will commence this summer. It is pertinent to note that the residency period for Afghan refugees in Pakistan concludes at the end of this calendar year; we hope the Government of Pakistan, considering Afghanistan’s specific circumstances, will take measures to extend this period.

Combating Land Grabbing and Institutional Failure

While many returnees have found success—including prominent politicians, specialists, and entrepreneurs who once lived as refugees—others continue to endure unjust conditions. Their properties have been usurped, and their rights trampled. Furthermore, several townships designated for returnees remain uninhabitable due to a lack of essential infrastructure or illegal occupation by powerful interests. We must bring an end to this unacceptable status quo.

Reflecting the government's prioritization of this issue, the High Council of Ministers resolved two months ago to establish the "High Commission for Migration." I will personally chair this commission to ensure that the problems of both refugees and IDPs are addressed through the direct participation of all relevant stakeholders.

Labor Migration and Consular Capacity

Over half a million Afghans reside in the Gulf states. In Saudi Arabia alone, approximately 300,000 compatriots face documentation issues; the Saudi government has agreed to facilitate the issuance of Afghan passports to them. We are also actively working to improve labor conditions for our citizens across the Gulf. Our intent is to enhance the capacity and authority of our consulates in host countries. Defending the rights of Afghan citizens abroad is a fundamental obligation of the state. Our effort is to ensure that our refugees enjoy their recognized international rights, particularly the right to education and skill acquisition for their children.

A Call to the International Community

Thousands of Afghans reside as refugees in Europe, Australia, Canada, the United States, and elsewhere, benefiting from their hospitality. However, many now face the risk of deportation due to a lack of documentation. My request to those nations is to refrain from deporting Afghan asylum seekers, given the specific security and economic challenges our country faces this year.

The Acceleration of Return

The narrative of our refugees is a somber chapter of our contemporary history. However, we are resolute in our decision to transform Afghanistan once again into a secure, common home for all Afghans. This future, by the grace of God, is not far off. Last year, 17,000 refugees returned; in just the first six months of this year, that number has surged to 42,000. These statistics indicate that the momentum of repatriation has accelerated significantly.

Afghans, wherever they may be, never forget their homeland. Our literature is saturated with the love of the motherland and the bitter experience of exile. Our people understand better than anyone the truth of the proverb: "In a foreign land, even a hero loses his stature."

We look forward to a tomorrow where no one, in Afghanistan or anywhere else, is ever forced to leave their home.

Long live Afghanistan!