Nowruz, Dari/Farsi for ‘new day’, marks the spring equinox on March 21 each year, and is an ancient festival celebrating the Persian New Year. The International Day of Nowruz was officially recognised by the United Nations in 2010 and inaugurated into the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; celebrated across the world by many different countries and diaspora groups, and in the process bringing together different cultures and communities. 

In Afghanistan it heralds the arrival of spring, the blooming of tulip flowers, and the greening of the plains and mountains that make up the Afghan landscape. In towns, cities and villages alike it is a time of great celebration and festivity, with families and people of different backgrounds coming together to welcome the first day of the year with colours, games and delicious foods. 

Here in Canberra is no exception; and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan wishes to extend its invitation to you to join us in welcoming the year 1401 with traditional festivities on Sunday the 20th of March at the Embassy grounds. Nowruz is an eagerly awaited date on the Embassy calendar, as we look forward to prosperous and peaceful new year for both Australia and Afghanistan, and our friends around the world. 

Unfortunately, among other nonsense bans, Nowruz celebration is also totally banned under the Taliban extremists in Afghanistan who don’t believe in peace, don’t believe in harmony, don’t value cultural diversity, and don’t respect human dignity at all. The Taliban, IS-K and other terrorist groups are sticking in their totalitarian theocratic and harsh ideological belief based on misinterpretation of sharia law to promote clash of civilizations.

To make 1401 truly spectacular and given that we have entered a new century of solar calendar, the Embassy is proud to present New Year, New Century, International Day of Nowruz, featuring different activities, games, displays, exhibitions, performances, and more – there is something for everybody, and each family member can celebrate Nowruz in their own way. 

There will be live music and live performances of traditional dance Attan by talented dancers and musicians travelling to Canberra from around Australia. Enjoy the performances while you admire the Embassy transformed by beautiful artworks and paintings by Dr. Yosuf Asefi, dazzling clothing displays and traditional carpets in rich colours. Sample some world-famous dry fruits and saffron tea or treat yourself to a lunch of delicacies as you have your name written in Afghan calligraphy.

Learn more about Nowruz as you view the Haft Sin table, representing seven important qualities for the new year, and taste the festive specialty,  Meywa. Discover your Afghan horoscope. And if you’re more interested in understanding the past, take home a piece of Australia’s own history with an exciting and informative DVD documentary on Afghan Cameleers.

Try your luck and compete with your friends and family at popular traditional games such as kite flying, and ‘egg-fighting’ for a real taste of how Nowruz is celebrated in Afghanistan. For those amongst us who are more athletically inclined, play a spot of cricket and cheer on the Afghan team as it competes in the upcoming T20 2022 World Cup right here in Australia this October. 

With all this and much more, the Embassy of Afghanistan is excited to announce its celebrations for Nowruz 1401. We look forward to welcoming community members, members of the diplomatic corps, members of Parliament and the public service, students, military personnel and all our other Australian and Afghan friends to welcome the New Year, New Century on Sunday the 20th of March. 

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Canberra, Australia will celebrate Nowruz 2022/1401 (solar calendar) with a series of cultural, artistic and entertainment programs at the premises of the Embassy on Sunday, March 20, 2022 from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm.

This historical event, which has deep roots in the history and culture of the people of Afghanistan, as well as most of its neighboring and regional countries, has been recognized by the United Nations since 2010 as the "International Day of Nowruz”. But unfortunately, by the Taliban takeover, Nowruz is now banned in Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan Embassy in conjuction with Afghan diaspora in Sydney and Melbourne will celebrate this historic and cultural day as an important annual festivity which is the heritage of our ancestors. 

It is worth mentioning that Nowruz 2022 coincides with the start of the new century (Solar Calendar). Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, the Embassy was not able to celebrate this festivity in the last two years. We do hope that with collaboration and support of fellow Afghan communities and associations in Australia, this year’s Nowruz Festival will be celebrated with greater success.  

From variety of Afghan cuisine, Samanak, Haft Meyva, saffron tea, Afghan products such as dry fruits, carpet exhibition, national costumes show, entertainment programs including musical performance and other Nowruz related activities are included in celebration of Nowruz 2022/1401.

Australian friends of Afghanistan and representatives of Foreign Diplomatic Corps will also participate in this historic festival. For this occasion, 20^th of March this year will be an “Open Embassy Day” for all guests and visitors from different ages.

Afghan community/association/diaspora members are most welcome to contribute to Nowruz 2022 celebration.  Let us take part in celebrating this national festivity and not let our indigenous traditions and historical days to be diminished and marginalized.

For more information and necessary coordination, please reach out via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or mobile/ WhatsApp # 0416 465  572.

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Australia celebrated the 160^th Anniversary of the arrival of the Afghan Cameleers in Australia in South Australia, on March 11 and 12^th, 2021. After its inauguration in June 2020, the 160th Anniversary events postponed for 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

The Ambassador of Afghanistan, HE Wahidullah Waissi, hosted and chaired number of events in both cities. The events were attended by many Australian and Afghan community members who resided in South Australia, including descendants from the Afghan Cameleers, as well as representatives of local authorities in the city of Port Augusta where and when the disembarkation of the first group of Afghan cameleers had taken place on 12 March 1860. 

In the sessions held in Adelaide and Port Augusta, the Afghan Cameleers descendants participated from different corners of Australia. Couples and individuals travelled from West Australia, Northern Territory, New South Wales and Victoria were among the participants. They met an Afghan Ambassador for the first time. In both events, the attended descendants were keen to hear about Afghanistan and their ancestor’s origin, history and culture of Afghanistan and its current affairs. They shared fond memories of their parents and grandparents from Afghanistan, their life after arrival in Australia and their legacies.  

In a historic message, HE President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, reflected on the outstanding contribution of Afghan cameleers to Australian outback and people to people bonds between Australia and Afghanistan so that the legacy of Afghan cameleers to be kept alive across generations.

The ceremony also eventuated an academic session jointly chaired by Ambassador Waissi and Afghan Cameleers researcher and writer Dr. Pamela Rajkowsky. Academics, notably professors and experts of history, anthropology and art and many descendants of cameleers discussed the significant role of Afghan Cameleers to Australia’s intercontinental economic connectivity and cultural diversity as the first Moslems to Australia. The academic session also explored ideas and suggestions for future opportunities in people-to-people links between two friendly countries. 

The Embassy of Afghanistan organised two wreath-laying ceremonies in Adelaide and Port Augusta in commemoration of the Afghan Cameleers by Ambassador of Afghanistan, Mayor of Port Augusta and representative of Afghan cameleers’ descendants.

In Adelaide, Ambassador Waissi also visited the “Adelaide Mosque” one the key icons that represent Afghan Cameleers’ contribution to the faith of Islam. It is also the oldest permanent mosque in Australia built in 1888. The tour of the mosque was organised by Sheik Helmi Bakhour, Imam of the mosque. Ambassador Waissi presented a praying matt as a gift of the Embassy to the Imam.

As part of his 3-day official visit, Ambassador Waissi met with high-ranking officials of South Australia, including Assistant Minister to the Premier Ms Jing Lee, the Leader of the Opposition at the Parliament of the South Australia, Mr Peter Malinauskas, and Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Ms Jayne Verschoor. All discussions focused on further strengthening bilateral ties between Australia and Afghanistan in various spheres.

For more information and background, click here.

To watch President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani's message to the Afghan Cameleers descendants, click here.

To watch interviews and history of the Afghan Cameleers, visit our YouTube Channel. 

Highlights of Relations between Afghanistan, Australia & the Pacific in 2020

2020 has been a tumultuous, challenging, yet a rewarding year for all. The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, despite the limitations imposed by COVID-19, has been hard at work in supporting Afghans in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, growing partnerships and friendships and advancing the causes of peace and mutual prosperity.

The Afghan-Australian relations have deepened considerably in 2020 over various areas of cooperation and shared history. Various events and visits were held, both in-person and virtually to commemorate several occasions, most notably the 160^thanniversary of the arrival of the famous Afghan cameleers in Australia. Cultural, people-to-people, political, trade and security ties have all had the opportunity to grow. We invite you to reflect on this year in Afghan-Australian relations and on what the future holds for the two countries and their friendship.

Political Ties:

The steadfast political friendship between Afghanistan and Australia has only grown stronger in 2020. Organised by the Embassy, The Australia-Afghanistan Parliamentary Friendship Group met, alongside Ambassador Wahidullah Waissi and other diplomats, at the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra on the 25^th of August. Inaugurated in 2017, the group is chaired by Andrew Wallace MP. The reception this year touched upon the topics of the Afghan peace process, the impacts of COVID-19 on Afghan society and its economy, the future of Australian assistance and engagement with Afghanistan and people to people bonds. Ambassador Waissi on the 29^th of August also made a visit to the DFAT Diplomatic Academy, discussing diplomatic studies and areas where Afghan-Australian collaboration can be enhanced with its Executive Director Paula Ganly. 

Across the Tasman, the Embassy was also hard at work in promoting an expanding relationship with New Zealand. During Ambassador Waissi’s visit to Wellington, he inaugurated a similar group, the Australia-Afghanistan Parliamentary Friendship Group, including Members of Parliament from most major parties. This Friendship Group will, in the years to come, help in developing the bilateral relationship between Afghanistan and New Zealand, especially in trade and support of the nearly 15,000 Afghans living in New Zealand

High-level talks also occurred in 2020, with Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Mohammed Haneef Atmar in discussion with Australian Foreign Minister, Marise Payne. The two Ministers discussed the ongoing Afghan peace process, and the much-appreciated Australian aid to Afghanistan, helping its economic and social development. 

2020, of course, was marked by a new start to the Afghan peace process, with negotiations beginning in Qatar between the government and the Taliban. Australia has been vocal in its strong support for peace in Afghanistan, urging for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to be implemented. 

Following the horrendous attack on Kabul University on the 2^nd of November, the Australian government, academia and public were also quick to condemn the perpetrators and to voice their strong support for the Afghan people and the attack’s victims. Diplomats, professors and all areas of Australian society wrote their much-appreciated condolences to the Embassy.  

Cultural Relations:

2020 was another significant milestone in the shared cultural history of Afghanistan and Australia. While 2019 saw the 50^th anniversary of Afghan-Australian diplomatic relations, 2020 brought about the 160^th anniversary of the arrival of the first Afghan cameleers in Australia. The Afghan cameleers were instrumental in exploring, charting and settling the arid interior of Australia, allowing trade routes to flourish and communities to grow in the outback. Their seldom mentioned stories were brought to light by the celebrations and commemorations organised by the Embassy. 

On the Embassy’s social media and website, exclusive interviews were aired featuring historians, academics, and the descendants of Afghan cameleers, who often married European and Aboriginal women. Afghans’ impacts on the spread of Islam in Australia was also revealed, with an article published on the Embassy website, written by historian and Afghan cameleer expert Pamela Rajkowski OAM.

The Australian government also celebrated this anniversary. The Royal Mint announced the production of special commemorative 50 cent coins, depicting an Afghan cameleer and his mount. Furthermore, the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt MP, also a descendant of cameleers, met with Ambassador Waissi to discuss their history and the impact they had on the outback and indigenous communities. 

The President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, also made a statement on the importance of the cameleers on the friendship between Afghanistan and Australia. In his words: “We began our relationship with Australia with our cameleers who crossed the desert, now the proud Australians are here to cross our mountains and rivers with us and create history together”. 

2020 was also the 101^st Anniversary of Afghan independence. Despite the stringent restrictions in place, the Embassy was still able to organise commemorations of this event. The iconic Telstra tower in Canberra, was lit up in the national colours of Afghanistan: black, red and green. Ambassador Waissi also gave an official recorded message to the public and members of the Afghan Australian community.  Furthermore, even with the second wave forcing Victorians back into lockdown, the Afghan flag was raised in the City of Dandenong, in Greater Melbourne, impressive achievements given the difficult circumstances.

Earlier in the year, before the outbreak of the pandemic, the Embassy participated in the National Multicultural Festival in Canberra, with its official stall “A Journey to Afghanistan”. This gave a chance to display Afghan culture and heritage to Australia, through a live performance of traditional music, displays of art and jewellery, calligraphy and samples of food and drink. The Embassy’s contribution was very received by the community attracting many visitors throughout the course Festival.

Additionally, Ambassador Waissi paid a visit to the Director of the Australian War Memorial, Matthew Anderson, to submit traditional Afghan clothing and handicrafts to the national collection, and to discuss the future expansion of the War Memorial’s Afghanistan exhibition and joint activities in the spirit of Afghan-Australian friendship.

The Embassy also organised recollections and celebrations of the first anniversary of the performance of the Zohra Orchestra, Afghanistan’s first all-female musical ensemble, at the Sydney Opera House. Members of the Afghan Australian community, politicians and prominent Australians all voiced their fond memories of the event through many statements, and the entire concert was posted on Embassy social media. 

Trade and Investment:

The Australian company Fortescue Metals Group, the world’s fourth largest iron ore producer, signed 5 memoranda of understanding in Kabul with the Ministries of Public Health, Higher Education, Mines and Petroleum, the Afghanistan National Water Affairs Regulation Authority, and the Afghan Red Crescent Society. Fortescue’s Chairman, Dr Andrew Forrest, remarked that “we hope wherever and whenever we can, Fortescue and Minderoo will help you lead a country where we dramatically increase the survival for cancer, increase the wisdom of your academic research leaders and ensure equality of women”. The signing ceremony was undertaken in the presence of President Ashraf Ghani and First Vice-President Amrullah Saleh. The previously untapped natural resources of Afghanistan, with the help of Australian companies such as Fortescue, are bound to create many opportunities for Afghans to prosper and for the country to develop further.

Also, this year, Ambassador Waissi engaged in a teleconference call with the Deputy CEO of Austrade, Sally-Ann Watts to discuss potential areas of trade and business cooperation between Australia and Afghanistan. 

Security:

Afghan National Army cadets continue to train at Australia’s defence academies. In April, two Afghan cadets, Bazmohammad Watandost and Siavash Saduqi graduated from the prestigious Royal Military College Duntroon after an 18-month training programme. 2021 is set to bring two more Afghan cadets to train in Australia, including the first female Afghan cadet to do so.

Engagement continued at the higher levels of government as well, with Afghan National Security Advisor Dr Hamdullah Mohib and Acting Defence Minister Asadullah Khaled meeting with Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds during the February Munich Security Conference. They discussed Australia’s ongoing military support to Afghanistan in its fight against terrorism and the importance of the Afghan Peace Process. 

The Embassy of Afghanistan has also been committed to ensuring compliance with the rule of law in security-related matters. With the Australian investigation into alleged war crimes committed by its special forces in Afghanistan, the Embassy has been vocal in its urging for a thorough investigation and prosecution of war criminals. This was accompanied by the release of a similar inquiry in New Zealand, into the NZSAS’ Operation Burnham, which led to the death of several civilians in Bamiyan Province in 2010. However, the official inquiry held that the operation was justified. 

Sports:

The sporting friendship between Afghanistan and Australia continues to grow, especially in the field of cricket. Afghan cricketers continue to excel in Australia’s Big Bash League, with Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Zahir Khan and Mujeeb Zadran performing exceptionally for their teams in Australia. Furthermore, in October, the Melbourne Renegades signed 15-year-old Afghan Noor Ahmad for the coming Big Bash season, an exceptional accomplishment for the next generation of Afghan sportsmen. 

2020 also brought very sad news, with the passing of Australian cricketing legend Dean Jones. Jones was a true friend of Afghanistan, visiting Kabul in 2017 to commentate and act as the interim coach of Afghanistan’s national cricket team. His legacy of promoting friendship and peace through sport will be sorely missed by all.

Development and Humanitarian Assistance:

The quadrennial Afghanistan Conference was held on the 23^rd and 24^th of November 2020, hosted remotely in Geneva by the UN, the Afghan and the Finnish governments. It discussed sustainable peace building, such as human and women’s rights and reintegrating returning refugees, methods for fighting corruption and economic and foreign aid matters. Australia was one of the 70 participants from around the world that contribute to this year’s Conference.

Australia has also been generous in responding to the extent and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan. In the latest Australian budget, over $11.5 million was allocated in additional funding for humanitarian assistance provided by Australia to Afghanistan. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in October released a two-year plan on aiding the development of Afghanistan. Australia will, with renewed focus, support Afghanistan’s health security, security and economic recovery, focalising on the participation and empowerment of women.

Education:

Relations between Afghan and Australia in higher education have also grown substantially in 2020. In October, a collaboration agreement between Kabul Polytechnic University, Australia’s Griffith University and the Brisbane-based International Water Centre was signed in a virtual ceremony attended by Ambassador Waissi. This has inaugurated a new course at Kabul Polytechnic University, the Master Programme on Integrated Water Resource Management, convened jointly with its Australian partners and funded by the Asian Development Bank. 

Furthermore, a round of virtual debates was hosted between the Monash International Affairs Society and Afghans for Progressive Thinking to debate several topics about gender equality and peace in Afghanistan. This exceptional opportunity for increased people-to-people and academic links was welcomed by all, especially considering the disruptive COVID pandemic and the ongoing peace talks in Qatar. The fifth round of debate, which took place in September, was adjudicated by Ambassador Waissi.

Consular Support:

Throughout 2020, The Embassy’s staff has been hard at work providing consular support to Afghan citizens in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. This was much-needed, especially during the lockdowns that struck cities across these countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ordeal was exacerbated by the second wave in Victoria, where one of Australia’s largest Afghan communities resides. Hence, while in-person consular services were impossible, the Embassy undertook innovative virtual consular services to Afghans, as well as frequently liaising with community leaders across the country.

Conclusion:

The start of the new decade has brought about challenges and opportunities for Afghanistan, Australia and their bilateral relationship. New engagement opportunities in trade, security, culture, education and politics will deepen our friendship for the years to come. Through our two countries’ shared history of the cameleers, Afghanistan and Australia are expanding their understanding of each other's culture and people. 2021 is bound to be another fruitful year for our friendship, with more in-person events and people-to-people exchanges possible. The Embassy would like to thank all who have supported it and Afghanistan throughout this difficult yet productive year and those who make the bright future of Afghan-Australian relations, focussed on our shared values, possible.

The 2020 Afghanistan Conference was a ministerial pledging conference, co-hosted by the Governments of Afghanistan and Finland with the United Nations, took place from 23–24 November. The quadrennial pledging conference was an important opportunity for Afghanistan and the international community to commit to common objectives for promoting sustainable development, prosperity and peace in the country.

A central aim of the conference was to determine shared development objectives and commitments for the period 2021–24 for the Afghan government and the international community.

The shared development objectives will guide development cooperation and provide financial support for Afghanistan. In addition to the pledges of financial support, a new development framework, a joint political declaration and a new aid architecture supporting Afghanistan’s development needs and priorities are the outcomes of the conference.

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2020 Afghanistan Conference Communiqué

The 2020 Afghanistan Conference took place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva with participants from 66 countries and 32 international organisations. The Conference was held in a virtual format and it was cohosted by the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Government of Finland and the United Nations. The event took place under extraordinary circumstances, at the beginning of the final four-year cycle of the Transformation Decade, shortly after the start of the Afghanistan Peace Negotiations and during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the Conference, the participants renewed their long-term commitment to support Afghanistan in seizing this historic opportunity on its path towards peace, prosperity and self-reliance and to continue efforts for the benefit of all Afghans. The participants committed to reconvene to review progress and pledges at a Senior Officials Meeting in 2021 and in a Ministerial Meeting in 2022.

1. We, the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (hereafter called the Afghan Government) and the international community along with other partners underline our commitment to establish a renewed partnership to strengthen a sovereign, unified, democratic and peaceful Afghanistan that is on a path towards prosperity and self-reliance for the benefit of all Afghans. Under this partnership, we welcome the Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework II and the Afghanistan Partnership Framework and undertake to be mutually accountable in supporting the efforts of the Afghan people to achieve tangible results in the field of peace-building, state-building and market-building.

2. We acknowledge the widespread and sincere demand of the Afghan people for lasting peace and an end to the war, and recognize that a sustainable peace can be achieved only through an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process that is internationally supported. We call for earnest efforts by all to realize lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.

3. In keeping with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2513, we welcome the start of the Afghanistan Peace Negotiations on September 12, 2020, aiming for an inclusive political settlement and a permanent and comprehensive peace. We further welcome the efforts of all regional and international partners of Afghanistan in this regard and recognize the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan and of all other Afghan actors, including the two negotiating teams in facilitating the Afghanistan Peace Negotiations. We acknowledge that significant progress in the peace negotiations in the spirit of the United Nations Security Council resolution 2513 is a key factor for the delisting within the United Nations Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988(2011).

4. We call for an inclusive and meaningful peace process with the participation of women, youth and ethnic, religious and other minorities. We affirm that any political settlement must protect the rights of all Afghans, including women, youth and minorities. It should respect the strong desire of Afghans to achieve durable peace and prosperity, and must respond to the strong desire of Afghans to sustain and build on the economic, social, political and development gains achieved since 2001, including adherence to the rule of law, respect for Afghanistan’s international obligations, and improving inclusive and accountable governance.

5. We underscore the importance of the Afghan Government’s efforts, which the international community is committed to support, to fulfil its commitment to a unified, sovereign, peaceful and democratic Afghanistan. We emphasize the need for a meaningful role for civil society, including the independent media, in this process. While respecting the sovereign right of the Afghan people to decide on the nature of the future political settlement, we underscore that the outcome, as outlined in paragraph four, above, will shape the future of international support and assistance.

6. We highlight that international development assistance and South-South cooperation bear great importance to Afghanistan’s economic and social development. We call on the international community to continue their financial support to Afghanistan, with the aim of helping Afghan people to achieve peace, reconstruction and development at an early date.

7. We acknowledge that security and stability are vital to sustainable development. We express deep concern about the continuing high level of violence and the security situation in Afghanistan, especially the number of civilian casualties and call for an immediate permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, and full respect of International Humanitarian Law.

8. We further express deep concern about the threat posed by terrorism to Afghanistan and the region, express serious concern over the continuing presence of ISIL, Al-Qaida as well as other international terrorist organizations and their affiliated groups in Afghanistan. We condemn in the strongest terms all terrorist activity and all terrorist attacks and reaffirm the importance of ensuring that the territory of Afghanistan should not be used by ISIL, Al-Qaida or other international terrorist groups to threaten or attack any other country, and that neither the Taliban nor any other Afghan entity, group or individual should support terrorists operating on the territory of any country.

9. We emphasize the importance of supporting the Afghan Government in capacity building, in particular of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) including the Afghan National Police (ANP) in securing their country and in their fight against terrorism.

10. We stress the important role and long-term commitment of the United Nations in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and welcome UNAMA’s ongoing efforts in the implementation of mandated tasks.

11. In the spirit of mutual accountability, we underscore the importance of the Afghan Government’s actions and the commitment from the international community to support the efforts of the Government in fulfilling its commitments to improve governance and the rule of law, including transitional justice as an essential component of the ongoing peace process, budget execution and the fight against corruption throughout the country.

12. We highlight the importance of regional cooperation, with a view to promoting stability and peace, as well as assisting Afghanistan in utilizing its unique geopolitical and geographical position as a land bridge to promote regional cooperation and connectivity, based on transparency, openness and inclusiveness with the aim of enhancing dialogue and collaboration to advance shared goals of economic development across the region.

13. We express concern over the cultivation, production, trade and trafficking of illicit drugs in Afghanistan which continue to pose a threat to peace and stability in the region and beyond, and call upon the Afghan Government and the international community to strengthen efforts to counter this threat through international, regional and sub-regional cooperation.

14. We acknowledge the economic development achieved by Afghanistan with the support of the international community in the past years, notably through the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) and recall the critical role the private sector, revenue generation and a conducive business climate, that includes the participation of women, will continue to play in this regard. We highlight the need for renewed vigour in implementing economic reforms and undertake to renew our long-term support and assistance to the Afghan people in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

15. We call for all relevant parties to work closely to facilitate the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return, rehabilitation and reintegration of the Afghan refugees and express appreciation to those regional countries, in particular Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran, that continue to host them.

16. We further call for continued cooperation between the Afghan Government, international partners, and neighbouring countries to stem irregular migration through enhanced collaborative efforts to fight migrants smuggling and human trafficking networks.

17. We note that humanitarian aid will continue to be needed for the foreseeable future and access of humanitarian actors must be ensured throughout the country in full abidance to humanitarian principles.

18. We recognize the profound challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, and their impact on Afghanistan and the well-being of its citizens, notably women, and express continued readiness to support the Afghan people towards a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable recovery.

19. We look forward to a Senior Officials Meeting in 2021 and a biennial ministerial meeting in 2022 to review progress as Afghanistan is approaching the end of its Transformation Decade.

24 November 2020, Palais des Nations, Geneva

Australia and Afghanistan share a friendly and long-standing relationship. Relations can be traced back as far as the 1860s when Afghan cameleers came to Australia. In fact, 2020 marks the 160^th anniversary of the arrival of these cameleers. The history and contribution of these cameleers and their descendants will be celebrated by the Embassy of Afghanistan in Canberra this year, with a special month of recognition from 15^th June to 15^th July. This will feature exclusive interviews with academics, as well as with descendants of the cameleers and Islamic-Indigenous communities. The Embassy looks forward to joining with these extraordinary individuals to shed more light on their ancestors.

From the late 1800s, as many as 20,000 camels and 2000 cameleers were contracted by European settlers for their invaluable knowledge of navigating semi-arid regions of the continent; with the Burke and Wills expedition of 1860-61 marking the first of such occasion. Not only did they contribute to the carriage of explorers, they also provided valuable assistance in transportation for the wool and mining industry, as well as major infrastructure projects including the Overland Telegraph Line; the Queensland Border Fence; the Transcontinental Railway; the Rabbit Proof Fence, and; the Canning Stock Route.

Upon their arrival, the cameleers were also the first to introduce the Islamic faith in Australia. They continued to wear their traditional clothing and adhered to their Muslim religion and devout practices – constructing rural Ghantowns as key focal points for the segregated communities. At first, these settlements were simply camel camps which provided shelter to Cameleers as they arrived or left for expeditions. Overtime, they would expand to incorporate more elements from their homeland including mosques, religious education, halal butchers, vegetable gardens and date groves. By 1888, rural Ghantowns had expanded into urban communities. The first metropolitan mosque in Australia was built on Adelaide’s Little Gilbert Street and became a national site of congregation for members during the fast of Ramadan.

During their inland travels, several cameleers formed a kinship with Indigenous Australians. Some agreed to carry traditional goods such as red ochre and the pituri plant across ancient trade routes; while others introduced sugar, tea, tobacco, clothing and metal tools to remote communities. In exchange, Indigenous Australians incorporated camel hair in their traditional artefacts and agreed to work with the cameleers during long desert treks by providing local information on water sources and plant material. 

During the 1920s, as Australian transport motorised, the demand for Cameleer services fell sharply. Within the space of 20 years, several Ghantowns decayed beyond recognition and were deserted. By the 1940s, the last of the cameleers had all but disappeared from inland roads and tracks. When there was no longer a need for their services, most Cameleers returned to their homes in Afghanistan. Those who decided to call Australia home married either into Indigenous or European communities – their offspring growing up under the Islamic faith. But as older Cameleers passed away, younger generations began to integrate more fully with Australian society and the memory of their contribution faded away.

Today, several remnants of the Afghan Cameleers have been left behind. The kinship between the Cameleers and the Indigenous remains strong, with 1,140 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians identifying themselves as Islamic-Indigenous – and the train between Adelaide and Darwin, The Ghan, has been named in their honour. A number of these proud descendants remain who are working hard to keep this legacy alive, and the Embassy is proud to share their stories as part of the 160^th Anniversary celebrations.

We wish to invite you to join us in learning, sharing, and celebrating this important part of Australian history and the long and rich Afghan-Australian relationship throughout this month. We also request your ongoing support and interest into the future, as we introduce an Afghan Cameleer Heritage Week to be celebrated every year moving forward.

Follow hashtag #AfghanCameleers160 for updates through our twitter, facebook, YouTube and Instagram pages.

Recognising Aboriginal Afghans - Australian National Reconciliation Week 

Reconciliation Week is dedicated to strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians. Running from May 27^th to June 3^rdevery year, this week aims to draw attention to the ongoing journey towards a just, equitable and reconciled Australia where all people have access to the same opportunities and quality of life. Reconciliation Week is about celebrating Country and acknowledging our share histories, cultures and achievements; and this is reflected in this year’s theme - ‘In This Together’.

At the Embassy of Afghanistan, this means celebrating and raising awareness of the togetherness shared by Aboriginal communities and Afghans, who first arrived in Outback Australia as cameleers 160 years ago. These cameleers played a crucial role in developing inland Australia, and along the way settled and established rural Ghantowns. The long and deep connections forged by those Afghan cameleers who befriended and married into Indigenous communities and started families are today told by their descendants, and this Reconciliation Week the Embassy will be shining a light on these stories. 

There are many proud descendants of Aboriginals Afghans living in Australia. As the National Reconcilian Week in Australia celebrating the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples for seven days only, we are gratful to introduce the follwoing seven desendants of Aboriginal Afghans who have lived and still living in Australia. Our viewers and audience in Afghanistan and Afghans all around the world are interested to read more about their lives, history and backgroud. 

We thank Pamela Rajkowski, a research author specialising in the history, heritage and contribution of the Australian Afghan Cameleers (1860 - 1930), for her gnenerous contribution to this profile. Pamela has regularly collaborates with Afghan Cameleer descendants across Australia. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Embassy of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Canberra or the Government of Afghanistan. Material presented throughout this article is for information purpose and is only as accurate as the sources allow.

Eric Sultan

Eric Sultan is a descendant of one of these early cameleers, and is also very proud of his Aboriginal heritage. His grandfather, Sultan Mohammed, arrived in Australia from Kandahar, Afghanistan in the late 1800s and worked on transporting goods all across the continent; from South Australia across to Western Australia, and north into the Northern Territory and Queensland. Eric is passionate about ensuring that the contributions of these cameleers and their descendants, particularly those Aboriginal Afghans, do not disappear from the history books.  

Rocky Khan

Rameth Nameth “Rocky” Khan, son of Oodnadatta Afghan camel owner Nameth Allik Khan and Aboriginal mother Alison Stokes, with his sister Miriam and brother Akbar travelled across country and states on their father’s camel strings. From the 1910s Rocky and Akbar worked and lived between Marree and Beltana as labourers and station hands. His first and second marriages were to Aboriginal sisters Cissie then Esther Dodd of Marree. The 8 children of Rocky and Esther were given both Afghan and English names (only 7 in the photo). Rocky Khan regularly attended Afghan cameleer family reunions at the Marree camel races.

Celebrating Australia’s pioneering Afghan Cameleers, the Royal Australian Mint has released two limited edition 50 cents coins (2500 each), in silver ($85) and Copper-Nickel ($10). The coin carries the new Jody Clark portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the other side. 

"With camels far more suited for transport and exploration than horses or bullocks, half the Australian population relied on Afghan cameleers for survival at one stage during the 19th century. An official issue of the Royal Australian Mint, this Silver Proof 50c coin forms a striking tribute to these Aussie pioneers", stated in the Royal Australian Mint website. 

Not only eye-catching, the 2020 50c Afghan Cameleers Silver Proof Coin is also extremely exclusive. Only 2,500 coins have been struck! Beautifully presented within official packaging, each of those coins is housed within a Royal Australian Mint case, united with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

In 2019, the Royal Australian Mint has also released a coin for the 90th anniversary of the Ghan Train, a legacy of the Afghan Cameleers and their contribution to the Adelaide-Alice Spring railway construction. 

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Canberra thanks the Royal Australian Mint for these recognition and timely release of these exclusive coins. 

Both Afghanistan and Australia have celebrated the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations (1969-2019).

For more details please visit: https://www.downies.com/2020-50c-afghan-cameleers-cuni-uncirculated-coin

Photo credit: The Royal Australian Mint