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Afghan refugees in Iran eager to return home
Many Afghan refugees who had fled to Iran are eager to return home to start a new life following the withdrawal of foreign troops in Afghanistan, Reuters reported.
Najibollah, 28, comes from Helmand Province in Afghanistan. One month ago, he spent 10 days walking to the Iranian border city Zahedan to avoid the conflict in his hometown.
During his stay in Iran, the situation in Afghanistan changed rapidly.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan retook control of the country, including the country’s capital city Kabul, and the last batch of U.S. troops left Afghanistan on August 31, ending America’s 20-year-long military presence in the country.
On Tuesday, the Islamic Emirate announced the formation of Afghanistan’s interim government and called on Afghan refugees to return home to build the country.
After hearing this, Najibollah decided to set out on his homecoming journey immediately.
“With the situation in Afghanistan now getting better, we all want to return to our own country. I want to tell all my compatriots that the situation there has improved, and we must return to our hometown and rebuild our homeland,” said Najibollah.
At the immigration center of Zahedan, many like Najibollah were waiting for transportation to go back home.
“The Americans haven’t treated Afghan people well. There have been too many explosions and disasters when the U.S. troops remained in Afghanistan,” said another Afghan refugee, Nesar Ahmad Jafari.
“I hope Afghanistan can have a chance to develop and prosper and that all parties in Afghanistan could reach a consensus for peace. I also would like to see the end of conflict. The war is dark. No matter where it happens, it’s bad,” said another Afghan refugee Mohammad.
According to official data, Iran has so far hosted more than three million Afghan refugees, making it one of the largest recipient countries of Afghan refugees, Reuters reported.
The Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan has announced scholarship opportunities for Afghan students under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program for the 2027 academic year.
According to the embassy, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan is offering scholarships for graduate-level study at Japanese universities under the research student category, including both regular and non-regular students.
Interested and eligible applicants can download the application guidelines and forms from the official Study in Japan website and are advised to carefully review all requirements before applying.
Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and have prepared all required documents must submit their applications by 25 May 2026. The embassy said late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.
The first screening process will include a written examination in Kabul on 18 June 2026, followed by interviews scheduled for July 2026 (date to be confirmed).
The Embassy of Japan noted that the Aga Khan Foundation Afghanistan will assist in collecting applications and facilitating written examinations, but will not be involved in the selection process.
It further emphasized that the selection will be conducted independently by the embassy and the Japanese government, based on academic merit, quality of application documents, and performance in written and interview examinations, without consideration of religious, linguistic, or ethnic background.
The scholarship program is fully funded and free of charge. The embassy warned applicants to remain cautious against scams, stressing that no financial contributions are required at any stage of the application process.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, has launched the distribution of more than 1,000 residential land plots for returning migrants in Logar province.
During a visit to Logar, Hanafi inaugurated a new township and said the initiative aims to support Afghan returnees by providing them with housing opportunities and improving settlement conditions.
He called for speeding up the process of distributing residential plots designated for migrants, stressing the importance of timely implementation.
“We inaugurated this township today, which includes more than 1,000 plots. These plots will be distributed to migrants. In addition, other townships will also be constructed soon,” he said.
Hanafi also noted that over the past three years, more than five million Afghan migrants have returned from neighboring countries, adding that efforts are underway to provide them with essential services and support their reintegration.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, has urged the Afghan authorities to take concrete action against militant threats that Islamabad says originate from Afghan soil.
Speaking at an event at the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul marking the first anniversary of Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos against India, Nizamani reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining “brotherly ties” with Afghanistan.
The ambassador also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in reducing tensions between Iran and the United States, saying Islamabad’s initiatives reflected its commitment to regional and global peace.
During the ceremony, Nizamani reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to defend itself against any aggression.
“Pakistan’s desire for peace must never be mistaken for weakness,” the ambassador said, calling for heightened vigilance against regional threats.
Pakistani officials have consistently claimed that militants use Afghan soil to attack Pakistan. The Islamic Emirate, however, has denied this claim and said that Afghanistan is not responsible for Pakistan’s security failures.
Japan announces MEXT scholarships for Afghan students for 2027 academic year
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Pakistan ambassador urges Afghan authorities to act against militant threats
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Afghanistan’s new cricket head coach Richard Pybus arrives in Kabul
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Germany to launch online visa system for Afghan study and work applicants in Pakistan
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