ABSTRACT
Among the millions of refugees who streamed out of Afghanistan over the 20-plus years of war (1978-2003), approximately 250,00 managed to leave the region for Europe, the US, and Australia. Their influence on Afghanistan’s future has increased as that of the Taliban and its supporters within the region has declined. Unlike past emigres, such as Russians following the revolution of 1917, Caucasians after 1922, Turkestanis following World War I, Iranians after 1979, Iraqis throughout the Baathist period, and Assyrians and Armenians after the genocide of 1915-23, the Afghan emigres have regained the opportunity to run their country of origin before their children fully assimilated into foreign societies. No laws, as yet, deny them the right of return. Indeed, their professional skills, powers of investment, and ability to bridge the cultural gap between those who remained in the country and those external societies intent on helping to rebuild an Afghan nation, has given them, for the time being, a privileged position. At the same time, Afghan emigres reflect their fragmented society of origin, all the more so due to their exile in waves reflecting successive regimes in Kabul.
