Iran’s embassy in Kabul urges joint measures with Afghanistan to tackle the Afghan refugee crisis, emphasizing legal solutions and cooperation against human trafficking. Both nations’ officials stress the need to separate refugee issues from political matters to facilitate effective resolutions, as Iran hosts the largest refugee population worldwide, comprising 3.8 million individuals.
The caretaker of Iran’s embassy in Kabul, Alireza Bigdeli, emphasized the need for Iran and Afghanistan to collaborate on resolving the Afghan refugee crisis. He stated that both countries should pursue legal avenues to address the situation, particularly for undocumented Afghan refugees. Bigdeli appreciated Afghanistan’s initiatives against human trafficking, asserting that such measures would enhance cooperation between the two neighboring nations.
During discussions with Afghanistan’s Acting Minister of Refugee and Repatriation, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, Bigdeli highlighted the necessity of separating refugees’ issues from political contexts. Both officials underscored the urgency of implementing tangible solutions to effectively address the refugee dilemma.
According to a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) factsheet from April to June 2024, Iran accommodates the largest refugee population globally, hosting approximately 3.8 million individuals in refugee or refugee-like conditions. This reflects Iran’s longstanding humanitarian approach, as nearly all registered refugees live in urban settings and integrate with local communities, with only one percent residing in designated refugee settlements across 12 provinces.
In conclusion, diplomatic efforts by Iran and Afghanistan to jointly respond to the Afghan refugee crisis reflect their strong bilateral relations. Collaborative approaches, focusing on legal status and initiatives against human trafficking, are pivotal. The substantial number of refugees in Iran underscores the necessity for ongoing cooperative solutions that address their needs while avoiding entanglement with political disputes.
Original Source: www.presstv.ir
