As a bridge between academic rigor and national governance, KHANA continues to facilitate critical dialogues on Iran’s most complex structural issues. By hosting the Rahel Association’s specialized sessions, we provide a platform for elite thinkers to challenge outdated paradigms and propose sophisticated frameworks for social and strategic reform.
At a recent KHANA hosted symposium, Dr. Pouya Alaedini of the University of Tehran dissected the long-standing failures of Iran’s migration policies. He argued that reducing the Afghan presence to a mere “security threat” or “cheap labor” has resulted in decades of missed strategic opportunities. Over the past fifty years, the lack of a comprehensive roadmap has kept both the host and migrant communities in a state of precarious suspension.
Alaedini emphasized that migration is fundamentally a civilizational and strategic phenomenon, rooted in a shared Persianate heritage. He warned that the recent surge in anti-migrant sentiment is fueled by economic stagnation and unscientific digital narratives rather than reality. To transition from a “policy of deportation” to a “strategy of integration,” Iran must courageously pivot toward a framework that recognizes Afghan migrants as vital human capital and a cornerstone of regional cultural diplomacy.
Event coverage by Fars News Agency
