OTTAWA: AUGUST 21, 2023

Today marks the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. It is an occasion to remember and pay tribute to the memory of all those who perished from this menace, and to support those who have survived and are left impacted.

Afghanistan had the great privilege and honor of leading the process for the adoption of General Assembly resolution 72/165 at the United Nations in New York in November 2017, which established this day.

We took on that role with pride and commitment to help ensure that all victims of terrorism around the world have the solidarity and support which they need and deserve.

In 2019, together with Spain, we formed the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism to ensure international support for victims went beyond the expression of solidarity alone.

This day has special value and relevance to Afghanistan. Our people stood in the front line of an international effort to defeat this menace in Afghanistan and around the world and to establish a democratic system in our country.

That effort was part of a long span of our people’s sacrifice to defend and advance values deemed essential for peace and stability around the world.

So today, we remember the lives of all of our compatriots who made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against terrorism, including extremism, and for real peace in their nation. We also remember and pay tribute to the memory of all sons and daughters from the international community who also sacrificed their precious lives in defense of our shared values and an Afghanistan that is peaceful, stable, and in which the aspirations of our citizens are met.

We also reaffirm the importance of ensuring justice for all victims of terrorism in Afghanistan and around the world by holding perpetrators to account and bringing them to justice.

Unfortunately, the Taliban’s forced takeover in August 2021 has resulted in a more complicated situation that is far from what was set to be achieved. Our people still face a political, security, and economic crisis that continues to worsen, impacting the lives of millions of our fellow citizens. If left unresolved, the crisis in Afghanistan will continue to have dangerous implications in Afghanistan and abroad, including the growing threat of terrorism and extremism.

Thus, we believe the best way to honor and pay tribute to all Afghans and friends of Afghanistan in the international community who lost their lives in barbaric attacks and were otherwise affected by terrorism in our country, is by realizing the objective they set out to achieve - ensuring real peace in a united, stable and democratic Afghanistan.

We once again remember and express our full solidarity and support to all victims of terrorism around the world.

OTTAWA: AUGUST 19, 2023

بیانیه شورای هماهنگی نمایندگی های دیپلوماتیک و قونسلی جمهوری اسلامی افغانستان به مناسبت صد و چهارمین سالگرد استرداد استقلال کشور

د افغانستان د خپلواکۍ د بېرته اخیستلو د ۱۰۴مې کلیزې په ویاړ د افغانستان د اسلامي جمهوریت د ډیپلوماتیکو او قونسلي مأموریتونو د همغږۍ شورا اعلامیه

Statement of the Coordination Council of Diplomatic and Consular Missions of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan On the 104th Anniversary of the Restoration of Afghanistan’s Independence

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OTTAWA: AUGUST 13, 2023

This past Sunday, Ambassador Hassan Soroosh participated and spoke in a panel on resettlement efforts as part of the Canadian Summit on Afghanistan organized by the Afghan Youth Engagement and Development Initiative (AYEDI).

Ambassador Soroosh expressed his gratefulness for the Canadian resettlement program for Afghanistan which is one of the largest at a global level as well as for the ongoing measures to further expedite the process.

Ambassador Soroosh stressed the importance of greater resettlement support for Afghanistan including through diversifying resettlement pathways, broadening the definition of eligibility and vulnerability under the humanitarian program and expanding the range of referral partners. He also highlighted the significance of easier admission and visa application processes for Afghan women and girls to pursue their education in Canada.

OTTAWA: AUGUST 15, 2023

Statement of the Coordination Council of the Diplomatic and Consular Missions of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on the Two-Year Mark since the Taliban’s Forced Takeover of Afghanistan

OTTAWA: AUGUST 13, 2023

Ambassador Hassan Soroosh participated and spoke at the rally against gender apartheid which was organized by the Canadian Women for Women of Afghanistan, Ottawa Chapter in the Parliament Hill, Ottawa.

The participants and speakers raised concern over the deteriorating and alarming human rights situation in Afghanistan and called for the recognition of the situation in Afghanistan as gender apartheid. Ambassador Soroosh spoke about the large scale and systematic violations of women’s and girls’ rights in Afghanistan and highlighted some of the unparalleled challenges and restrictions facing Afghan women and girls under the Taliban. He thanked the government of Canada for keeping the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan high on the agenda and stressed the importance of effective joint messaging, strong policy responses and visible actions at the international level in support of courageous Afghan women and girls.

Photos by CW4WAfghan

On June 28, 2023, Ambassador Soroosh participated and spoke at an event hosted in Toronto by the Project Hope (Toronto Police Service) and Afghan Nobel TV to celebrate Eid and welcome newcomers from Afghanistan.

The event was attended by around 700 newcomers from Afghanistan, Federal and Provincial ministers, MPs, Senators, MPPs, Officials from the City of Toronto and Toronto Police Service, renowned artists from Afghanistan and Tajikistan, and many activists and volunteers from the Afghan diaspora community.

Welcoming the newcomers from Afghanistan and expressing his best wishes on the occasion of Eid-Al-Adha, Ambassador Soroosh spoke about the longstanding friendship between the people of Afghanistan and Canada as well as the shared values that continue to drive this friendship.

Ambassador Soroosh expressed his gratefulness to the government of Canada for the previous assistance as well as the ongoing humanitarian, resettlement and advocacy efforts in support of the people of Afghanistan.

Ambassador Soroosh also extended his gratitude to many activists and volunteers from the Afghan diaspora community and friends of Afghanistan in Canada including under the Project Hope for their sustained engagement in support of vulnerable people in Afghanistan and the newcomers here in Canada.

Ambassador Soroosh reiterated that the Afghan Embassy and Consulates in Canada “remain committed to working closely with all Afghan, Canadian and international friends and partners across Canada in advancing our shared priorities and values”.

OTTAWA: JULY 1, 2023

“On behalf of my family, staff and myself I extend my warmest wishes to all Canadians on the occasion of Canada Day.

On this occasion, we reflect on the longstanding friendship and partnership between the people of Afghanistan and Canada and honor the efforts and sacrifices that many courageous men and women from Afghanistan and Canada made alongside each other in defence of our shared values.

The people of Afghanistan remain grateful for the previous Canadian support to important areas such as democratic process, education, health, women’s empowerment and counter-terrorism as well as for Canada’s ongoing humanitarian, resettlement and advocacy efforts in support of the vulnerable people in Afghanistan particularly women and girls.

Canada’s principled position and sustained support remains crucial in helping ensure an inclusive future for all Afghans based on the will of the people and our shared values including human rights, justice and pluralism.

We are proud of our diaspora community who continue to play a key role in contributing to Canadian society, helping with the ongoing efforts in support of the vulnerable people in Afghanistan and the newcomers here in Canada as well as in maintaining and expanding the friendship between the people of the two countries.

We also remain thankful to friends of Afghanistan in Canada for their sustained commitment and engagement in support of the people of Afghanistan.

The embassy looks forward to further working with our friends and colleagues in Canada as well as with our diaspora community to advance our shared priorities and values.”