Dr. Ashraf Ghani

Keypoints:

Government Service: I am your servant. We are accountable to you and committed to your welfare.
Afghan Identity: No one can be deprived of their Afghan identity under the constitution.
Migrants’ Return: A High Council for Migrants will oversee gradual, voluntary, and principled return.
Embassy Accountability: Afghan embassies serve all citizens; discrimination is unacceptable. Complaints go directly to me.
Security & State Strength: Afghanistan is stable. Terror aims to break will, not topple the state. Courage and unity are our strength.
Neighborly Relations: Afghanistan works with neighbors based on logic and shared interests, not excuses.
Iran Cooperation: Migrant issues, security, and trade will be addressed jointly. Progress in one area helps others.
Internal Governance: Cabinet is functioning; ministries are active. Reforms ensure fair representation and proper processes.
Women & Society: Afghan society defends women’s rights. Crimes like Farkhunda’s will not be tolerated again.
Action Plan: All issues raised will be followed up, including distinguishing law-abiding migrants from criminals.
Call to Return: Afghan migrants, your skills, investments, and talents are needed. Return safely and contribute to the nation.

I am honored to be here today to represent you. Your government is at your service; I am your servant and accountable to you. Let me reiterate: your government, and I personally, are committed to serving you, representing your interests, and being accountable to you. Whatever paths were available to you, and whatever were not, your mind and heart remain Afghan. No one can be deprived of their Afghan identity under the constitution.

Our clear commitment is that the matter of our migrants and their gradual, voluntary, and principled return is at the forefront of our agenda. That is the first point. Last week, His Excellency Alimi Balkhi, our Minister of Refugees, proposed, and the Afghan Cabinet approved, the establishment of a High Council for Migrants, under my personal chairmanship, to oversee all matters related to our migrants. This Council will meet at least once a month.

Second, I wish to express my gratitude to Ambassador [Nasir Ahmad Noor] and Mr. Samadi. Embassies exist to serve Afghans; anyone who treats Afghans unequally, favoring one over another, has no place in Afghan diplomacy. Discrimination on any basis in our embassies is unacceptable. Minister of Foreign Affairs [Salahuddin Rabbani] has been tasked with rectifying this situation. Moreover, those who accessed positions through connections or patronage have no place in the Ministry.

Let me be clear: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the entire government of Afghanistan are at your service. If you have complaints about any consulate or embassy staff, submit them directly to me, with a copy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Accountability is not just on paper; we aim for practical accountability, and for that, we must earn your trust.

Your concerns span multiple areas. First, I want to assure you that your government is not at risk of collapse; it is stable. This year presents serious challenges. The type of war we face aims not at the fall of the state but at undermining will and determination. During an emergency Loya Jirga session, a representative of Afghan migrants in Iran approached me. I promised alongside him, yet he barely recognized me. He said, “Are you Ashraf Ghani?” He expected someone two meters tall and weighing 180 kilograms. The source of our strength is not in physical stature but in political will, in the structure of a state that represents a proud nation and a sacred jihad.

We are not weak; we stand with our neighbors. I wish to assure you that, God willing, in the future, each of our neighbors will need Afghanistan as much as we needed them in the past. Our representation is based not on excuses but on logic and shared interests. We are preparing plans to evaluate mutual interests between the two nations, not to present excuses.

We are deeply grateful to the Government of Iran for welcoming our migrants over the past 36 years. Yet, Afghanistan’s stability and prosperity are essential to Iran’s future, as Iran’s stability is essential to ours. Our policy toward neighbors is constructive, and our relations are multidimensional. We have six major issues with Iran, which form an interconnected package. Progress in migrant-related issues will facilitate progress in all other areas. God willing, we will advance.

I extend my sincere thanks to my colleagues: Professor Mohaqiq, Mr. Rabbani, Mr. Hakimi, Mr. Saba, Mr. Balkhi, Mr. Rahimi, the ministers accompanying you, Mr. Sultan Zoy, and Mr. Karzai. We all agree that our approach is solution-oriented. Our goal is to accelerate work in the next three months. Major issues have been categorized, and within three months, our two governments will work cohesively. Afterward, two major commissions—one on security, the other on economic matters—will reconvene to ensure progress. Cooperation with the Minister of Interior of Iran, Mr. Rahmani, has been excellent and crucial in addressing key issues.

The second set of concerns belongs to us internally. I have taken notes—rather than address each point separately, relevant ministries are already working on them. The Cabinet is established; ministers will be sworn in tomorrow. I thank the Afghan Parliament for unanimously confirming all ministers. The machinery of government will begin to function more swiftly.

Your proposals will be carefully considered; while a quota of 5,000 may not be feasible, your fair share is guaranteed. Every reasonable suggestion will be deliberated, and decisions will be made accordingly. Dr. Fatemian and others emphasized, as you did, the importance of your return to Afghanistan and the valuable human and financial capital you represent. A dedicated ministerial committee will work with you to facilitate this.

Ambassador, please prepare detailed tables of skills, expertise, and investment potential to allow for coherent planning. We request that no one leaves without proper coordination to avoid disappointment. Your contributions, especially those of professionals and women, are highly needed; Afghanistan depends on you. Reforms are underway, and over time, all state institutions will operate within proper regulations. In this framework, you will have your rightful place.

A special message to Afghan women here: the case of Farkhunda, whose martyrdom shook the nation, underscores both the vulnerability and the resilience of our society. The perpetrators, mostly uneducated and ignorant of Islamic principles, acted in blatant disregard of the Qur’an and Sharia. Islam teaches that the killing of one innocent person is equivalent to the killing of all humanity. Yet, the Afghan community rose spontaneously to defend women’s rights and the rights of all citizens. The social conscience of Afghanistan is strong, and such incidents will not be tolerated again.

Your security and concerns will be thoroughly addressed. Regarding your representation with the Iranian government, some matters have been discussed; others will be pursued systematically. Progress may be uneven, but my commitment as your President is to follow up on every issue you raise, to understand constraints, and to seek solutions.

The issue of Afghan migrants in Iran, especially undocumented migrants, is complex. Most Afghans respect the law and work diligently, but a criminal minority is involved in illegal narcotics trafficking. Distinctions must be made between criminals and law-abiding, honorable citizens. These issues, including detainees, will be addressed in the upcoming three-month action plan.

Once again, I sincerely thank all of you. May God bless your return to your homeland. As Mr. Afzali stated, in 24 years abroad, I never experienced discrimination. Regardless of my status as a professor in the United States or a senior official at the World Bank, the Afghan identity remained central. In the future, any Afghan working abroad, whether male or female, talented or accomplished, should be recognized first as an Afghan.

Long live Afghanistan! May our Afghan migrants return home swiftly and safely. Thank you.

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