Kabul and Ankara Discuss Afghan Migrants and Bilateral Cooperation

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the Taliban administration’s Minister of Refugees and Repatriations, met with Sadin Ay Yildiz, head of Turkey’s diplomatic mission in Kabul, to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation and addressing the challenges faced by Afghan migrants residing in Turkey. The main focus of the meeting was the situation of migrants and ways to foster joint collaboration. According to a statement released by the Ministry of Refugees on Wednesday, Yildiz emphasized that Afghanistan holds special importance for the Turkish government. He added that besides official Turkish government aid, several non-governmental organizations and institutions from Turkey are also actively providing assistance to those in need and carrying out development programs across various regions of Afghanistan. The Turkish envoy noted that Ankara supports a stable and self-reliant Afghanistan and believes the country holds a significant position in regional connectivity. He further stressed that Turkey seeks to resolve issues related to Afghanistan through dialogue and will continue its efforts in this regard. Yildiz highlighted that Turkey has issued work visas for 20,000 Afghan citizens solely in the livestock sector. He also noted that Turkey is striving to find solutions to the problem of illegal migration, which has in recent years become a serious challenge for Afghan migrants in the region. During the meeting, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir expressed gratitude for Turkey’s cooperation and aid, stating that relations between Kabul and Ankara have always been based on mutual respect. He expressed hope that these relations will become closer and broader in the near future. The Taliban-appointed Minister of Refugees also claimed that Afghanistan, through achieving security and stability, offers extensive opportunities for development and a pivotal role in regional connectivity. He emphasized expanding cooperation between the private sectors of both countries, while also pointing out some problems faced by Afghan migrants in Turkey. Abdul Kabir stated that the Taliban administration supports the voluntary return of migrants. This comes amid ongoing demands from some Afghan migrants in various countries for guaranteed suitable living, working conditions, and security before returning home. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Minister of Refugees welcomed Turkey’s mediating role in talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan and described Turkey as a friend of Afghanistan.