Afghanistan Peace CampaignMeanwhile, the European Union Delegation in Afghanistan has once again reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Afghan refugees.
World Refugee Day arrives as thousands of Afghan refugees continue to face an uncertain and unsettled future.
These refugees are not only struggling with economic pressures and legal challenges in host countries, but recent political and security developments, especially the Iran-Israel tensions and Pakistan’s forced deportations—have further deepened the concerns.
Abdul Rauf Mohammadi, who was deported from Iran, shares his story: “On the last night when I moved, the war had already started. Israel had launched an attack. We set off and after that, we didn’t see anything else, but the conflict was raging.”
Meanwhile, the European Union Delegation in Afghanistan has once again reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Afghan refugees.
In a public statement, the delegation stated that it would continue to assist Afghan refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and returnees—particularly in regional countries such as Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asia, in areas such as education, healthcare, and economic support.
A section of the EU statement reads: “Today, on World Refugee Day, the European Union renews its commitment to supporting displaced Afghans. In Afghanistan and across the region (Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asia), we support the protection, education, and livelihoods of refugees, returnees, and IDPs.”
Ali Reza Karimi, a refugee rights activist, says:
“Afghans are increasingly choosing dangerous migration routes, both legally and illegally. To reduce this trend, the government or the Islamic Emirate must seriously focus on ensuring political stability, providing security, improving the economy, expanding job opportunities, and supporting human rights.”
Political analysts and refugee rights advocates believe that close cooperation between host countries, the United Nations, and the Islamic Emirate is essential to managing the ongoing refugee crisis.
Political affairs analyst Moeen Gul Chamakni stated: “A joint committee could be formed between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United Nations to hold negotiations and eventually reach a solution. However, the current approach to deportations is intolerable.”
Juma Khan Pouya, an advocate for refugee rights, added: “It is crucial that host countries of Afghan refugees, including Iran and Pakistan, as well as international organizations such as UNHCR and IOM, work toward a joint solution to address the challenges facing refugees and those at risk, based on international conventions, including the Geneva Convention and its additional protocols.”
This comes as the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations previously reported that since the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, more than 5.97 million Afghans have returned from neighboring countries.