At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting held in Tianjin, China, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, emphasized the importance of national consensus and inclusive governance in Afghanistan as key priorities for regional stability.

In his statement delivered on Wednesday, July 16, Dar highlighted that the continued strengthening of a national consensus and ensuring ethnic and political inclusion within Afghanistan’s governing structures remain central issues for Pakistan and regional partners.

The Pakistani foreign minister stated that participants at the summit stressed the critical need to support an Afghanistan free from terrorism. He added, “There is a shared understanding of the importance of supporting Afghanistan’s reconstruction and ensuring its sustainable development as an independent, neutral, and peaceful country—free from terrorism and narcotics trafficking.”

Dar also noted that discussions during the meeting focused on enhancing regional security, with special emphasis on Afghanistan’s role in the broader stability of the region.

The SCO meeting comes at a time when international attention remains focused on Afghanistan’s political landscape, regional integration, and the collective responsibility of neighboring states in promoting peace, security, and development in the country.

A major water infrastructure project has been completed in Khakrez district of Kandahar province with support from the European Union.

The newly constructed dam has a storage capacity of more than 131,000 cubic meters and is set to bring significant benefits to local communities.

Designed to improve access to water and strengthen climate resilience, the dam will directly support over 2,500 families across 12 villages.

In addition to providing a more reliable water source for household and agricultural use, the project will help recharge groundwater and mitigate the risk of seasonal flooding.

Local authorities and community leaders have welcomed the initiative, highlighting its role in addressing water scarcity and enhancing food security in the region.

The dam is part of broader efforts by Afghan institutions and international partners to invest in sustainable rural development and environmental protection.

By improving water management and building resilience against climate-related challenges, the project marks an important step toward long-term stability and prosperity in southern Afghanistan.

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has called on regional countries to suspend the mass deportation of Afghan refugees, warning that the dire humanitarian and economic situation inside Afghanistan renders conditions unfit for return.

In a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Karzai said: “While we understand the challenges host countries face due to the large presence of refugees, the worsening situation inside Afghanistan has created circumstances in which the necessary conditions for their return do not exist. Forcibly sending them back in the current situation would not only add to the existing burdens, but could also create greater risks and serious threats — a situation that benefits no one.”

Karzai specifically appealed to Iran and Pakistan—two of the largest host nations for Afghan refugees—to reconsider their recent moves to accelerate deportations. He emphasized the need for a more humane and measured approach, particularly given Afghanistan’s ongoing economic collapse, restrictions on women’s rights, and widespread instability.

“Our request and expectation from host countries is to reconsider their decision regarding the mass and forced deportation of Afghan refugees, especially in light of the ongoing challenges — particularly the economic hardships and the closure of schools and universities to girls,” Karzai said.

Karzai’s comments come amid a growing refugee crisis. According to officials in Kabul, more than 500,000 Afghan migrants have returned from Iran in the past month alone, many of them forcibly deported.

The figure, reported by Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi earlier this month, highlights the intensifying pressure on Afghanistan’s fragile infrastructure and social services.

The mass returns have overwhelmed border crossings in western provinces like Herat and Nimroz, where aid agencies have warned of insufficient shelter, food, and medical support for returnees—many of whom are women, children, or elderly.
Decades of displacement

Karzai also pointed to the historical context of Afghanistan’s refugee crisis. “The people of Afghanistan were first forced into involuntary and imposed migration nearly four and a half decades ago following the invasion of the former Soviet forces and continued foreign interventions,” he said. “As a result, they were compelled to leave their homeland and seek refuge in other countries—and this issue has only intensified in recent years.”

Host countries, especially Iran and Pakistan, have cited economic constraints, domestic political pressure, and national security concerns as reasons for accelerating deportations.

However, humanitarian groups including the UNHCR have urged these governments to respect the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the forced return of individuals to countries where they may face persecution or harm.

Karzai concluded his appeal by urging a cooperative regional approach that takes into account both the humanitarian needs of Afghan refugees and the practical limitations of host countries, but without resorting to mass forced returns.