After concerted efforts by various Italian organizations and the Italian government an agreement has been reached to take in 700 Afghan refugees.

This forms part of the Community of Sant’Egidio’s ‘humanitarian corridors’ program’, which has also resettled Syrian refugees in the past.

According to a statement issued by the Community’s President, Marco Impagliazzo, Afghans who fled the country after the collapse of the previous government, “and who have been forgotten by the international community while waiting to be resettled, this is finally a sign of hope.”

In total, the Community’s humanitarian corridors’ initiative has allowed 8,200 refugees to arrive safely in Europe.

This agreement to help easy entry for Afghan refugees is particularly significant for it comes “at a time in history when we are witnessing a concerning rise in wars and tensions among nations” and “highlights the importance of humanitarian corridors as a model for welcoming and integrating refugees,” said Impagliazzo.

His comments followed the signing of the agreement on Monday afternoon at Italy’s Ministry of the Interior, the Vatican News reported.

This Agreement is an addendum to the agreement already signed in November 2021, which enabled the arrival and resettlement in Italy of 812 Afghan citizens.

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has emphasized the need for continued engagement and dialogue with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), and for the international community not to forget about Afghanistan.

Speaking at the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Tashkent, Mirziyoyev said: “We should not forget our neighbor [Afghanistan]. In our view, preventing the isolation of this country, establishing constructive relations with the current authorities, and viewing

Afghanistan, as part of the Central Asian region with untapped potential, is of particular importance.”

Mirziyoyev also emphasized the need for the acceleration of the implementation of the Trans-Afghan Railway project, from Termez to Peshawar via Afghanistan, during a meeting with the Pakistan Senate’s Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani.

The Uzbek presidential office announced that the meeting focused on key issues, including speeding up trade, investment, and transportation projects, developing the Afghan Transit Corridor, and strengthening regional cooperation and humanitarian exchanges.

In the meantime, the Islamic Emirate has welcomed the remarks made by the President of Uzbekistan.

The IEA’s deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said: “I praise the positive statements and position of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of Uzbekistan, regarding Afghanistan. Recently, political, economic, trade, transit, and investment relations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have improved. The Islamic Emirate seeks to expand its relations with neighboring countries, the region, and other countries around the world.”

In February 2021, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan signed a roadmap for the construction of the Trans-Afghan Railway project, which once complete will be a significant step towards regional connectivity and the utilization of Afghanistan’s economic potential.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has voiced concern over the treatment being meted out to Afghan refugees by neighboring countries, stating that Pakistan and Iran are not abiding by international laws pertaining to refugees.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, “Afghan refugees are being subjected to violence, their property is being looted, and their household goods are being confiscated, which is against all Islamic and human principles and international laws.”

The ministry stated that Afghan refugees are also being illegally arrested in their homes, shops, and markets in Pakistan, and then taken to prison before being forcibly deported.

The ministry also urged Pakistan to end the violence and mistreatment of Afghan refugees and not use refugees as tools for its own political goals.

“All refugees should be allowed to take their wealth, belongings, and household items back to their country,” the statement read.

The ministry also called on international organizations and aid agencies to pay special attention to solving the problems of Afghan refugees and provide them with urgent assistance in Afghanistan.

In addition, the ministry said the refugees should not face oppression, coercion, or violence once they return to Afghanistan.

“Afghanistan’s wealthy people and investors are also expected to once again help Afghan refugees based on their Islamic and human feelings and brotherhood, as they have done in the past; ordinary Afghans should welcome their refugee brothers and sisters with open arms and do everything they can to help them.”

In 2023, Pakistan started a campaign to deport approximately four million Afghans who have entered the country over the past 40 years.

Last year, the authorities granted some leeway but Pakistan’s government then set a March 31 deadline to expel foreign nationals living in the country illegally. Islamabad did however push this deadline out a few days in light of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The Islamic Emirate said it has tried to put plans in place to accommodate an influx of refugees from Pakistan but stressed that any mistreatment of the refugees was unacceptable.