Jakarta (ANTARA) \u2013 Indonesia\u2019s Coordinating Minister for Legal\nAffairs, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections, Yusril Ihza\nMahendra, said the government was open to further studying the handling\nof Afghan nationals who had fallen victim to human trafficking\nsyndicates.<\/p>\n
During a meeting with Afghanistan\u2019s ambassador in Jakarta on Thursday\n(22 October), he said that examining cases involving victims lured by\npromises of jobs in Australia or European countries was intended to\nsupport efforts to combat human trafficking.<\/p>\n
\u201cImmigration has data on Afghan nationals who have been deported and\nthose still awaiting deportation. About 18 people are currently awaiting\ndeportation,\u201d Yusril said, as confirmed in Jakarta on Monday.<\/p>\n
He said some of the nationals had entered on visit visas but later\nencountered immigration problems because they did not hold the\nappropriate visas or their sponsors rejected them after they arrived in\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Yusril also pointed to the longstanding historical ties between\nIndonesia and Afghanistan, which date back to the early years of\nIndonesia\u2019s independence. He expressed hope that peace in Afghanistan\nwould endure and strengthen relations between the peoples of the two\ncountries.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope this peace will last forever for the people of Afghanistan,\nbecause our countries share a long history of relations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Regarding the repatriation of Afghan nationals serving prison\nsentences in Indonesia, the minister said he was open to examining the\ncases further. Discussions on prisoner data, the possibility of\nrepatriation and the granting of pardons would require inter-agency\ncoordination and compliance with Indonesian law, he said.<\/p>\n
Afghanistan\u2019s ambassador, Mawlawi Sadullah Baloch, asked for\nconfirmed data on Afghan nationals serving criminal sentences in\nIndonesia. Afghanistan proposed further discussions on whether prisoners\ncould serve the remainder of their sentences in their home country.<\/p>\n
Mawlawi also said about 57 Afghan traders visited Indonesia for a\ntrade exhibition from 14 to 18 October 2026. The visit opened the way to\nexplore contracts with Indonesian businesses, particularly for direct\nimports of palm oil and paper without using intermediary countries, he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He added that Afghanistan was strategically positioned as a trade\nroute to Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan,\nTurkmenistan and Kazakhstan.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, the ambassador also described the security\nsituation in Afghanistan as increasingly stable. He outlined efforts to\ncombat narcotics and developments in the country\u2019s industrial sector,\nsaying that more than 6,000 factories had been inaugurated over the past\nfive years as security improved and investment increased.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlhamdulillah, security is generally assured and there are no\nsignificant problems there,\u201d Mawlawi said.<\/p>\n
With peace and stability, many people were investing in and returning\nto Afghanistan, he said, expressing hope that the country would continue\non a positive path.<\/p>\n
The meeting was expected to strengthen diplomatic communication and\ncreate opportunities for broader cooperation between Indonesia and\nAfghanistan in law, immigration, corrections and trade.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/yusril-indonesia-to-study-issues-facing-afghan-human-trafficking-victims-1793026434", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }