Afghanistan's ambassador says a bilateral deal that could see Australia forcibly repatriate failed asylum seekers aims to protect lives, by stopping people from embarking on possibly deadly journeys.
Afghanistan's ambassador to Australia H.E Nasir Ahmad Andisha told SBS there's a future for Afghans willing to remain in their country to rebuild.
"As an ambassador it's so hard to hear that hundreds of men and women are trying to Australia from Indonesia and they die and we don't even know that they died because they are at the hands of the smugglers, so what we do is protect the lives of these men and women that can do a lot, for their countries and for their families (back home.
"So the main reason why we do this is just somehow reduce the incentive for people smugglers.
He said those looking for asylum elsewhere can apply for refugee status from Afghanistan.
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"Moving from one place to another is the right of any human being. We have the convention of UNHCR, so under that these people can come legally, rather than risking their lives".
He also said embassy will issue travel documents to Hazara man Ismail Mirja Zan, if a court this year upholds the Australian government's right to deport him.
"If a country decides that this person cannot stay anymore - and it's a decision of that country - then, constitutionally it's the right of that person to return and constitutionally it's the responsibility of embassies to provide them with documents, because I cannot discriminate against any person who is going to return to the country on whether I'm going to give him a permit".
Watch the full interview with the Afghan ambassador:
