09.10.2026 12:14
Fuat Oktay, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and AK Party Ankara MP, met with Afghan students receiving undergraduate/graduate education at different universities in Turkey at the Parliament. Oktay said, 'Afghan students are not guests in Turkey, they are hosts. As of today, there are approximately 10,000 students of Afghan nationality in Turkey. You have a great responsibility in building Afghanistan's future.'
Fuat Oktay, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) and AK Party Ankara MP, received the delegation of the Afghan Students Council (Afghan Students Association-ASA) at the Parliament.
At the meeting held within the scope of the "Sahn-ı Seman" camp organized in Ankara by the Afghan Students Council, Oktay met with Afghan students pursuing undergraduate/graduate education in Turkey and made assessments on the students' educational processes, the future of Afghanistan, and relations between the two countries.
"AFGHAN STUDENTS ARE NOT GUESTS IN TURKEY, THEY ARE HOSTS"
In his speech at the beginning of the meeting, Oktay stated that Afghan students in Turkey are "not guests, but hosts" and expressed that Turkey is like a second homeland for Afghan students.
"THERE ARE 10,000 STUDENTS OF AFGHAN NATIONALITY IN TURKEY"
Noting that 9,670 students of Afghan nationality are currently studying in Turkey, Oktay said that 1,525 of these students are studying at associate degree level, 5,638 at undergraduate level, 2,066 at master's level, and 441 at doctoral level.
"YOU HAVE A GREAT DUTY IN BUILDING AFGHANISTAN'S FUTURE"
Expressing his satisfaction at coming together with Afghan students in Turkey and discussing the future of Afghanistan, Oktay noted that the students are representatives in Turkey of a strong Afghanistan. Drawing attention to the importance of qualified human resources in building Afghanistan's future, Oktay called on the students to return to their country after completing their education. Oktay said, "I would very much like you to return to Afghanistan when you complete your education here. I studied abroad. I insistently wanted to return to Turkey. I also encouraged many of my friends. We owe a debt to this country. This country sent us here by cutting back on its own bread and water. We must return and serve this nation and contribute to the country's development."
"IF YOU ARE GOOD, THEY WILL FIND YOU"
Pointing to Afghanistan's natural resources, young population, and human capital, Oktay emphasized that students should act with the goal of becoming the best in their fields. Oktay said, "Each of you must have the claim, 'I will be the best' in your field. If you are good, they will come after you, they will find you. The Afghan government will find you."
"YOUR EXPERIENCES AND THE SERVICE YOU HAVE RENDERED TO TURKEY ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE EDUCATION THAT WOULD TAKE US DOZENS OF DAYS"
Speaking on behalf of the delegation of the Afghan Students Council, Council Chairman Sayed Sulaiman Nabil said that the Council is organized in 51 provinces of Turkey and that they organize camps, seminars, and educational programs in different cities. Noting that their main goal as a Council is to seek answers to the question "How do we build the Afghanistan of the future?", Nabil said they want to benefit from Turkey's experiences on how Afghanistan's foreign policy can be shaped in the future and how the country can become a more effective actor in its region. Using the statement, "Your experiences and the services you have rendered to Turkey are more important than the education we would receive over dozens of days," Nabil thanked Fuat Oktay on behalf of the Council members for taking time for them.
OKTAY ANSWERED THE AFGHAN STUDENTS' QUESTIONS
After the opening speeches, Fuat Oktay answered the Afghan students' questions and made assessments regarding the students' educational processes in Turkey, the future of Afghanistan, Turkey-Afghanistan relations, and opportunities for cooperation between the two countries. Oktay drew attention to the importance of the students using the knowledge and experience they gained in Turkey in a way that contributes to Afghanistan's development.
The meeting, which lasted about two hours, ended with a group photo taken after the question-and-answer session. After the meeting, the Afghan students showed great interest in Oktay, took photos with him one by one, and expressed their thanks for the meeting.
THE AFGHAN STUDENTS COUNCIL CONSISTS OF MORE THAN 5,000 AFGHAN STUDENTS IN 51 PROVINCES
The Afghan Students Council was founded in 2019 to strengthen national solidarity among Afghan students studying in Turkey and to create a common platform beyond ethnic, religious, linguistic, and regional differences.
The Council, which expanded its field of activity across Turkey over the past seven years, today operates in 51 provinces and directly communicates with more than 5,000 Afghan students. Since its founding, the Council has brought Afghan students together around a common identity and common interests while carrying out activities that support cooperation and exchange of ideas in academic, cultural, and social fields.