The agenda of economic development and preventing migration in Afghanistan may seem quite unusual compared to the news we are accustomed to, but that's exactly the situation. Just 2.5 years ago, the prevalent language in this country was the language of occupation, violence, war, and instability, and such an agenda was never considered.
Irregular migrants or refugees going from one country to another carry or form perceptions about the problems, deficiencies, and unbearable living conditions in their own countries. The Taliban regime, which, after 20 years of Jihad against the United States, declared their victory as the "direct and explicitly named victory of Islam" and emphasized their responsibility to think about the dignity, health, and honor of this Jihad and to act in accordance with it, actually faces its biggest challenge: the human resource migrating from Afghanistan to other countries. The conditions in the country push people to migrate because there are no jobs, living conditions are inadequate, and the political situation in the country does not make people hopeful about their own country.
The significant difficulties that Afghan irregular migrants face in their migration journeys and the places they go, as witnessed in Türkiye, provide an idea about the conditions they left behind. Undoubtedly, asylum and irregular migration from Afghanistan did not start in the last two or three years, during the Taliban era. On the contrary, invasions and internal wars that continued for 45 years largely hindered the formation of a stable and promising economy in the country. Given the conditions of civil war, it is understandable that Afghanistan has been a constant producer of migrants. On the contrary, the second Taliban government has, for the first time in 45 years, established a stable administration that has spread throughout the entire country and has made it possible to think about economic development issues.
In fact, the drug, which could be considered the largest input to the economy, was already a significant problem for the country and was far from being a sector whose revenues were reflected to the citizens. As mentioned before, while the income obtained from there partially financed the occupation, the necessary human resources for the occupation were also provided through the addiction created by this dark sector. Even the fact that the Taliban completely eradicated this sector in a short period can be considered a great value and success.
The image of people clinging to the wheels and wings of US cargo planes to escape Afghanistan on the day the Taliban expelled the occupiers naturally created complex perceptions about those fleeing the country. The idea that a Taliban government pursuing revenge or past regime policies would accelerate migration from the country was often highlighted in Western media among these perceptions. The expectation was that a Taliban administration seeking revenge and revenge would already further accelerate migration from the country. However, the Taliban government, instead of pursuing revenge or past policies, immediately declared a general amnesty upon taking over the administration, stating that unless there is a violation of personal rights due to their relationship with the old regime, no prosecution will be initiated. So far, they have acted in accordance with this promise. This situation actually prevented the faster migration expected from Afghanistan.
Moreover, in recent months, the return migration of many Afghans who had previously migrated to Pakistan is on the agenda.
One of the biggest tests of the Taliban government in the name of an Islamic administration is to create conditions that will keep its citizens in their country. For this, social peace and tranquility, largely provided by the stable administration of the Taliban, are already in place. The next step is to create economic development conditions that will not push people to other places and will make the country more livable. The ministers we spoke to say that they are making serious efforts for this. The 20-year US administration has not made any investment in infrastructure, industrial facilities, or economic resources for people. The new administration is now gearing up for these investments and is actually expecting investment initiatives, especially from Islamic countries.
Afghanistan offers very good opportunities for investors in terms of energy, infrastructure construction, mining, agriculture, and human capital. It has a highly dynamic young population—a human capital that is hardworking, skilled, quick to learn, and does not shy away from any difficulties. It also has vast, quality, arable lands and a rich plant cover. Launching a promotional campaign that presents the country as a land of opportunities for investors, especially in international textile or labor-intensive industrial productions, can turn Afghanistan into an attractive center. Industrial investors in this field can also come to Afghanistan, just like they went to China, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, or even Egypt. This would serve as a step for Afghanistan's economic development and an effective program to prevent migration from the central regions.
On the other hand, Afghanistan's extensive arable lands can also be opened to foreign investors in a way that provides employment for young people. Food is one of the most important issues in the world today. Many countries resort to various methods to produce their own food sources in other countries. Why should Afghanistan not be one of these areas in the future?
The Afghan people, who, by expelling the occupiers from their country 20 years later, are awaiting the interest of investors from Muslim countries with these considerations. One thing they emphasize is that they do not request assistance in the form of donations in this regard; on the contrary, they expect the interest of Muslim businessmen in their country, promising gains for investors.
