Afghanistan’s embassy in Australia is celebrating the arrival of Afghan cameleers to the country and is including some of the cameleer descendants living in Australia today.

Several programs were held in the Australian cities of Adelaide and Canberra.

Afghan cameleers in Australia, sometimes referred to as "Ghans," were camel drivers who worked in Australia's Outback from the 1860s to the 1930s. Today, the cameleers--and their descendants--are known as Aboriginal Afghans.

“Afghan Cameleers Day has never been celebrated before, we launched this initiative last year,” said Wahidullah Waisi, Afghanistan's ambassador to Australia.

“At the end of both sessions, as a group we visited the tombs of cameleers and lay flower wreaths to fulfill our Afghan and Islamic obligations,” said Waisi.

Who are these Aboriginal Afghans?

160 years ago, a group of Afghan cameleers from Kandahar, Helmand, Nimroz, Kunar and Nangarhar traveled to Australia and traded various types of goods. This continued for decades.

With the passage of time, these Afghans merged with Australian society, with some of them marrying Australians.

“I have a very deep connection with the term Afghan cameleer as a modern-day descendant. I think it's important absolutely to acknowledge your past, your history and your culture,” said an Australian Aboriginal Afghan named Hassan.

“I think it's great that we do the celebration and I really appreciate the message from the president of Afghanistan. We have a long history together, I think we should continue that,” said Steve, an aboriginal Afghan in Australia.

According to the old tales, these cameleers introduced Islam to Australia, and there are still signs of Islamic architecture in some areas.

Visiting the buildings, as well as laying flowers on the tombs of the martyrs, was part of the ceremony held this year to commemorate the anniversary of the arrival of the Afghan cameleers in Australia.