Afghanistan Peace CampaignMr. Mujahid said that the Ministry of Higher Education is prepared to facilitate the continuation of these students’ education inside Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s decision to expel Afghan medical students from universities in the country has sparked widespread reactions.
The spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan described Pakistan’s move as regrettable and urged Islamabad to reconsider its decision.
Mr. Mujahid said that the Ministry of Higher Education is prepared to facilitate the continuation of these students’ education inside Afghanistan.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, said: “This action is regrettable and inhumane. First, we call for the decision to be reconsidered, and second, the Ministry of Higher Education is prepared to enable the students to resume their studies from where they were interrupted.”
The Embassy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Islamabad has also called on Pakistani educational institutions and international organizations to take action to protect the educational rights of Afghan students.
The embassy stressed that knowledge, education and human ties should not be affected by political differences.
Sardar Ahmad Shakib, the Islamic Emirate’s ambassador in Islamabad, said: “Most of these medical students came at Pakistan’s request and on scholarships. Depriving them of education under these sensitive circumstances will affect their lives.”
Meanwhile, Amnesty International described the decision by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council as “blatantly discriminatory and arbitrary.”
The organization said the consequences of the decision would be serious, particularly for Afghan female students, and urged Pakistan to find a humane solution that would allow them to continue their education.
The move has also drawn strong reactions in Pakistan. Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s former special representative for Afghanistan, described the expulsion of Afghan medical students, particularly young women, as “shocking.”
Pakistani politician Mohsin Dawar also described the decision as “shameful and inhumane.”
Amnesty International wrote: “Under international human rights law, Pakistan is obligated to guarantee the right to education without discrimination based on national origin. Amnesty International calls on Pakistani authorities to adopt a humane and practical solution that allows Afghan students, including women and girls, to complete their education.”
Sediq Shariati, head of the students’ union in Pakistan, said: “Afghan students in Pakistan are facing an uncertain future. They are experiencing psychological distress and do not know what will ultimately happen.”
Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, citing Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan, reported that requests to extend the visas of Afghan students are still being reviewed by Pakistani authorities. The newspaper added that the process continues “in accordance with existing policies, laws and regulations.” According to reports, however, the decision affects nearly 1,000 Afghan students.