The Saudi Embassy in Kabul has announced that it has resumed its operations after nearly a year-long hiatus.
The embassy made the announcement on Sunday, December 22, stating that “the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Kabul has resumed its activities as of December 22.”
The Saudi Embassy in Kabul had suspended its activities in February of the previous year, citing security concerns.
In its statement marking the reopening of the embassy, Saudi Arabia mentioned that the embassy’s reopening is in line with the Kingdom’s desire “to provide all services to the brotherly people of Afghanistan.”
It is important to note that in August 2021, following the collapse of the previous Afghanistan government, Saudi Arabia evacuated its diplomats from Kabul. However, by November of the same year, it returned with limited diplomatic staff to provide consular services.
Over the past three years, Saudi Arabia’s activities in Afghanistan have been minimal, mainly focusing on humanitarian aid and addressing immediate humanitarian needs.
The Taliban regime has repeatedly urged regional and international countries to reopen their diplomatic missions in Afghanistan.
Currently, the embassies of several countries, including Russia, China, and Iran, are active in Kabul, while Western countries are conducting their diplomatic activities from outside Afghanistan.
While no country has yet officially recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, several regional countries continue to normalize their relations with the Taliban government.
Saudi Embassy resumes operations in Kabul after one-year hiatus
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has announced its support for over 80,000 small businesses led by women in Afghanistan, contributing significantly to the growth of local families.
In a video message shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, December 22, Stephen Rodrigues, head of the UNDP office in Afghanistan, stated that their initiatives had not only supported these businesses but also provided employment opportunities for 900,000 people across the country. Additionally, he highlighted that 4.5 million people had benefited from these programs.
Rodrigues emphasized that UNDP’s efforts to empower women entrepreneurs have been crucial, especially after the restrictions placed on women and girls’ education following the events of August 2021. As a result, many women and girls have turned to small businesses to support themselves and their families.
Despite the challenges and restrictions placed on them, female entrepreneurs continue to thrive. The recent handicrafts and production exhibition in Kabul, where many women had a prominent presence, is a testament to their resilience and entrepreneurial spirit.
There has been a noticeable increase in interest among Afghan women, especially young girls, in business activities. Many are starting small and medium enterprises, seeing entrepreneurship as a viable path to financial independence and social contribution.
Meanwhile, the recent survey showed that women in Afghanistan are still facing severe discrimination and violations of their human rights, including profound discrimination, operational limitations, and a severely weak financial system, which has significantly limited women’s access to loans from banks. According to the report, out of 41% of more than 3,000 women who were interviewed, only 5% stated that they had received loans from banks or small financial institutions.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has reported that 73% of these women are unable to travel to local markets without a male guardian (mahram).
The report further states: “When asked about the limitations of running a business as a woman, 32% of women-led small and medium enterprises believed that gender discrimination created barriers to accessing markets for their businesses, 28% cited difficulties in procuring supplies, and 19% referred to challenges in securing formal loans.”
This data highlights the many barriers women in Afghanistan face in both personal and professional spheres. These restrictions not only hinder women’s economic independence but also contribute to their ongoing marginalization in society.
Addressing these issues requires significant reforms, particularly in the financial system and legal framework, to enable women to fully participate in the economy and regain their rights to equal opportunities.
International support and advocacy for women’s rights in Afghanistan remain critical, as they can help amplify the voices of Afghan women and work towards policy changes that can empower them to overcome these limitations.
UN supports over 80,000 women-led small businesses in Afghanistan
The Afghanistan Journalists Center reported that the employees of Arezo TV, who had been detained, were released after two weeks upon providing “guarantees.”
In a statement released on Sunday, December 22, the center announced the release of Amanullah Azimi, Khalid Barkazi, Amir Hossein Attryan, Zahir Faizi, Samir Ahmad Baik, Haroon Irfan, and Bektash Rofi, employees of Arezo TV, from the custody of Taliban.
It is worth noting that intelligence and the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice agents had sealed the Arezo TV office in Kabul two weeks ago and taken several of its employees into custody.
Seven of these employees were released after two weeks upon providing “guarantees,” but the TV station in Kabul has not yet been allowed to resume its activities. The trial for these employees is scheduled to take place in a week.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center welcomed the release of the Arezo TV employees and urged the authorities to close the case and allow Arezo TV to resume its operations unconditionally.
Arezo TV was established in 2006 in Mazar-e-Sharif, and its office in Kabul began operations in 2009. The TV station is considered one of the prominent media outlets in the fields of reporting, documentary production, series, and film dubbing.
The detention and subsequent release of Arezo TV employees highlight ongoing challenges faced by media outlets under the current political climate in Afghanistan. While the release is a positive development, the restriction on the station’s ability to operate freely raises concerns about media freedom in the country.
The call by the Afghanistan Journalists Center for the closure of the case and the unconditional reopening of Arezo TV reflects broader anxieties about press freedom in Afghanistan, with many hoping for a more transparent and supportive environment for journalists in the future. The situation serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggles for media independence in the region.
Afghanistan Journalists Center confirms release of seven Arezo TV employees from prison
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s coast guard said Saturday it was searching for survivors or victims of a speedboat capsizing a day earlier involving migrants off the eastern Greek island of Rhodes.
The capsizing, the result of the boat’s maneuvering to evade a patrol vessel according to authorities, left eight confirmed dead.
A total of 18 migrants — 12 men, three women and three minors — all Afghan nationals, were rescued, the coast guard said Saturday. The dead were also from Afghanistan, it said.
Some migrants remained hospitalized, with one in critical condition, authorities said.
Two Turkish citizens, ages 23 and 19, were arrested as the suspected traffickers. The boat sank after capsizing, the coast guard said.
The sinking off Rhodes was the second deadly incident involving migrants in the past week.
Seven migrants were killed and dozens were believed missing after a boat partially sank south of the island of Crete over the weekend — one of four rescue operations during which more than 200 migrants were rescued.
Greek authorities say boat capsizing victims and survivors were from Afghanistan. 2 Turks arrested
Some of these refugees are urging the authorities in the caretaker government to address these challenges seriously.
A number of Afghan refugees in Iran have expressed concerns about the newly imposed restrictions in the country, saying these limitations will make it challenging for them to find suitable jobs and shelter.
“We are facing serious problems in Iran, including not having a bank card, which means we can’t even buy bread at a bakery or shop for essentials,” said Jawad, an Afghan migrant.
Previously, Iranian media reported that according to a “new regulation,” the residence and employment of refugees in certain areas of the country have been prohibited.
Nader Yarahmadi, head of the Center for Foreign Nationals and Migrants Affairs, announced that East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Zanjan, Sistan and Baluchistan, and Mazandaran provinces are among the areas where the presence of refugees has been restricted.
A report from Iranian media stated: “According to this law, the provinces of East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Zanjan, Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Ilam, Lorestan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, North Khorasan, Gilan, Mazandaran, Sistan and Baluchistan, Khuzestan, and Hamedan are completely off-limits for foreign nationals to travel or settle. Some areas in other provinces are also designated as restricted zones.”
“In some cities, migrants without documentation or those with permission but no residence rights must ensure that they obtain clearance from the Kafalat offices before traveling to these provinces to avoid problems,” said Mohammad Khan Talebi, a migration rights activist.
A significant portion of refugees in Iran are Afghan citizens.
Meanwhile, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate has called on host countries not to impose new restrictions on Afghan refugees.
The spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, stated: “In general, we request that Afghan refugees be treated with kindness and not face restrictions or difficulties. Of course, we are making efforts to encourage and facilitate their return to Afghanistan. However, exerting pressure, imposing restrictions, and placing them under threats is not the right approach.”
Given the current situation, it is expected that this decision will have serious consequences for the lives of thousands of Afghan refugees in Iran, adding further challenges to their livelihoods and security.
New Restrictions in Iran Pose Challenge for Afghan Refugees
Some political analysts consider such meetings effective in resolving certain challenges between the two countries.
Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, acting ambassador of the Islamic Emirate in Islamabad, met with Saidia Arabia’s deputy ambassador for Afghanistan in Pakistan to discuss bilateral relations.
According to Shakeeb, the meeting focused on strengthening bilateral ties between Kabul and Riyadh, simplifying visa issuance for Afghan citizens, and other related matters.
The acting ambassador of the Islamic Emirate in Islamabad stated: “Two days ago, we met with Mr. Mutlaq Al-Shammari at the embassy and discussed bilateral relations between the two countries, resuming Afghanistan-related affairs in Kabul, and facilitating visa issuance for Afghans.”
Some political analysts consider such meetings effective in resolving certain challenges between the two countries.
Enayatullah Adeel, a political analyst, said: “Such meetings and relations are very important, and efforts must be made to establish close ties with Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia.”
Mohammad Omar Nahzat, another political analyst, said: “These discussions should have a clear agenda and be prioritized based on national objectives.”
Previously, the acting foreign minister also met with the Saudi ambassador for Afghanistan to discuss the religious, cultural, and historical commonalities between the citizens of both countries. He emphasized that the Islamic Emirate is keen on expanding relations with Saudi Arabia.
Islamic Emirate, Saudi Arabia Discuss Strengthening Bilateral Relations
During the program, he described the people as supporters of the caretaker government.
The Political Deputy of the Prime Minister said that the caretaker government can effectively represent Afghanistan.
Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, speaking at a graduation ceremony in Logar province, emphasized that the Islamic Emirate has established direct relations with countries around the world.
During the program, he described the people as supporters of the caretaker government.
Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, said: “Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the Political Deputy of the Prime Minister, has stated that the Islamic Emirate can represent Afghanistan effectively and has managed to establish direct relations with the world in recent years.”
The Political Deputy of the Prime Minister also noted that, in addition to supporting religious schools, the caretaker government is committed to the development of schools and universities across the country.
The Deputy Spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate stated: “The Islamic Emirate is committed to expanding universities alongside religious schools and is working to educate university students with an Islamic mindset so they can serve the country.”
Idris Mohammadi Zazi, a political analyst, said: “The Islamic Emirate should establish an educational system and mechanism where both male and female classes can progress step by step in a way that enables them to address the hardships of their fellow citizens.”
Previously, the US Secretary of State remarked that due to the policies of the caretaker government, Afghanistan has been pushed into global isolation.
Mawlawi Abdul Kabir: Islamic Emirate Represents Afghanistan Well
At least 50 people killed in accidents on the same highway in Ghazni province between Kabul and southern Kandahar city.
Two bus crashes in central Afghanistan have killed at least 50 people and injured dozens more, according to officials.
The accidents took place on the same highway in Ghazni province between the capital, Kabul, and southern Kandahar city late on Wednesday, provincial head of information and culture Hamidullah Nisar said on X on Thursday.
In the first, a passenger bus collided with a fuel tanker near Shahbaz village in central Ghazni. In the other accident, a bus hit a truck in the eastern district of Andar, Nisar said.
Hafiz Omar, a spokesman for the governor of Ghazni province, said 50 people were killed in the accidents.
Taliban chief government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid put the death toll at 52 and said 65 people were injured. Other officials said up to 76 people were injured.
“We learned with great regret that two fatal traffic accidents occurred on the Kabul-Kandahar Highway,” Mujahid said in a statement.
“These incidents have deeply disturbed and saddened us … We urge the relevant authorities to conduct an immediate investigation into both incidents, identify the causes, and take necessary actions to prevent such tragedies in the future,” he added.
Dozens killed in two passenger bus crashes in Afghanistan
An Afghan woman amongst ruins caused by ongoing conflict in the country.
Medical institutions were the last hope for Afghan girls and women seeking higher education since the Taliban banned schools and universities for women
“Why do you torture us every day? Just give us poison and end it all,” a heartbroken Afghan medical student told Taliban forces, expressing the despair of thousands of girls whose dreams of becoming healthcare professionals were shattered by the Taliban’s latest decree.
The hardline group has banned all female medical students from pursuing education, marking the closure of nursing and midwifery programs across Afghanistan, the last lifeline for girls seeking higher education in a country where women’s rights have been systematically eroded since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
The Taliban’s recent decree, issued directly by the group’s supreme leader, Hebatullah Akhundzada, has caused immediate devastation.
For the past three years, nursing and midwifery were the only remaining fields of study open to women after the Taliban banned girls from attending secondary schools and universities. The abrupt closure of these institutions has ignited widespread despair across Afghan society.
The ban comes a few months after the Taliban banned women’s voices and faces in public under so-called new vice and virtue laws.
Health Policy Watch spoke to several nursing students who expressed frustration and sadness.
‘Are we not human?’
“I was about to graduate. After the closure of universities, nursing institutes were our last hope. Now, they are closed too. I feel completely hopeless,” said Sumaya*, a nursing student in her final semester.
Hameeda*, a nursing student in Kabul, echoed the despair: “We don’t have the means to study abroad. We are asking the Taliban: ‘Are we not human? Don’t we have the right to education? God has made men and women equal in their rights.”
“I have turned homeless, wandering aimlessly,” one student said in a viral video. Her words, along with others like it, have echoed through Kabul and beyond as girls wearing full-body black veils, many in tears, left their classrooms for the final time, uncertain if they would ever return.
Fariba*, a mother from Kabul, received devastating news when her daughter, Parwana, called early one morning, sobbing uncontrollably.
“She never calls at this time,” Fariba, who once taught elementary education to girls, told Health Policy Watch. “It’s when she’s in class.”
Her daughter Sara* had been studying nursing after her dream of attending university to study computer science was dashed by the Taliban’s closure of higher education for girls.
“Now, we are left without hope,” Sara, 20, lamented. “Our dreams are shattered. We are being pushed into the darkness.”
Conservative estimates suggest that around 35,000 girls were enrolled in over 150 private and 10 public medical institutions offering diplomas in fields such as nursing, midwifery, dentistry, and laboratory sciences before the Taliban’s ban.
These programs were the last available option for young Afghan women who sought to contribute to their communities, particularly in healthcare.
The abrupt suspension has left students in shock. The administrator of one of the nursing institutes sent a message to all female students: “With a heavy heart, I must inform you that until further notice from the Islamic Emirate, you must not come to the institute for studies.”
Deepening health crisis
Training to be a nurse or midwife was the sole remaining career option for Afghan women after the Taliban takeover in 2021.
This move not only marks the end of the academic ambitions of girls and women, but also deepens the country’s already precarious healthcare crisis.
Afghanistan’s healthcare system was already under strain before the Taliban’s return to power, with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world.
In 2020, the country saw 620 women die for every 100,000 live births – a stark contrast to just 10 deaths in the UK, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Less than 60% of births were overseen by trained health personnel in 2019, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which estimates that Afghanistan requires an additional 18,000 skilled midwives to meet the needs of its women.
Despite the overwhelming need for female healthcare workers, the Taliban’s decision to block access to medical education for women will exacerbate the crisis.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warned that the country’s lack of female healthcare professionals would directly impact the provision of essential health services, especially maternal care.
“There is no healthcare system without educated female health practitioners,” said Mickael Le Paih, MSF’s Country Representative in Afghanistan.
“In MSF, more than 41% of our medical staff are women. The decision to bar women from studying at medical institutes will further exclude them from both education and healthcare.”
The healthcare sector’s reliance on female professionals is especially critical in Afghanistan, where cultural norms often prevent women from being treated by male doctors.
Dr Ahmed Rashed, a Kabul-based health policy expert, warned that the Taliban’s latest decree would create numerous social challenges, especially for Afghan women who prefer to be treated by female healthcare workers.
“If girls cannot attend secondary school, and women cannot study at universities or medical institutes, where will the future generation of female doctors come from?” Rashed asked. “Who will provide healthcare to Afghan women when they need it most? For essential services to be available to all genders, they must be delivered by all genders.”
International outcry
Last week, the United Nations (UN) Security Council criticized the medical education ban and the “vice and virtue” law issued in August in a unanimous resolution voicing concern about “the increasing erosion” of human rights in the country.
“If implemented, the reported new ban will be yet another inexplicable, totally unjustifiable blow to the health, dignity, and futures of Afghan women and girls. It will constitute yet another direct assault on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan,” according to UN Special Rapporteurs working on women’s rights, human rights and health.
“It will undoubtedly lead to unnecessary suffering, illness, and possibly deaths of Afghan women and children, now and in future generations, which could amount to femicide.”
The Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC), which trains female healthcare workers in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, reported that it had been verbally informed that classes for women would be “temporarily suspended.”
As the Taliban’s gender-based restrictions continue to devastate the lives of millions of Afghan women and girls, the question remains: What is the future of Afghanistan’s healthcare system? Without access to education, Afghan women will be barred from becoming the doctors, nurses, and midwives their country so desperately needs.
This decision, experts warn, will not only create immediate social and healthcare challenges but will have long-term consequences for generations to come.
* Names changed to protect their identities
Manija Mirzaie is an Afghan journalist now based outside that country.
‘Are We Not Human?’ Afghan Women in Despair After Taliban Ban Them from Nursing and Midwifery Women’s Health
G7 Special Representatives have expressed deep concern over the Taliban’s recent decision to ban women and girls from attending health institutes in Afghanistan.
In a joint statement issued on Friday, December 20, they stated that this ban would have devastating consequences for all Afghans, especially mothers and newborns, further destabilizing an already fragile healthcare system.
The representatives noted that this decision is part of a pattern of over 80 “repressive” and “discriminatory” policies enacted by the Taliban under the pretext of religious enforcement, aimed at excluding women and girls from education, the economy, and public life.
They called for the immediate reversal of these unacceptable actions and policies by the Taliban.
The statement also emphasized that Afghanistan’s long-term stability requires a credible and inclusive national dialogue leading to the establishment of a constitutional system with a comprehensive and inclusive political structure.
Additionally, the representatives expressed concern over the recent attack on the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation and the ongoing threats of terrorism, which jeopardize Afghanistan’s security and stability. While acknowledging the Taliban’s actions against ISIS-Khorasan, they urged the Taliban to address these threats in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2593.
They further highlighted that several terrorist groups continue to operate safely within Afghanistan, planning and executing domestic and cross-border attacks.
The Taliban’s recent decision to close health institutes to girls has sparked widespread domestic and international criticism.
The Taliban’s ban on women in health education and their broader policies of exclusion risk pushing Afghanistan further into isolation and hardship. These actions not only harm Afghan society but also pose a significant challenge to regional and global stability.
The international community must maintain pressure on the Taliban to uphold basic human rights and ensure that women and girls have equal access to education, healthcare, and economic participation. Sustainable peace and development in Afghanistan depend on reversing these oppressive policies and fostering inclusivity.
G7 representatives urge Taliban to restore women’s rights and tackle terrorism
The United Nations says aid workers are still in a “race against time” to remove rubble and rebuild after the devastating earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan last month, killing at least 2,200 people and cutting off remote areas.
The 6.0-magnitude quake on Aug. 31 was shallow, destroying or causing extensive damage to low-rise buildings in the mountainous region. It hit late at night, and homes — mostly made of mud, wood, or rocks — collapsed instantly, becoming death traps.
Satellite data shows that about 40,500 truckloads of debris still needs to be cleared from affected areas in several provinces, the United Nations Development Program said Wednesday. Entire communities have been upended and families are sleeping in the open, it added.
The quake’s epicenter was in remote and rugged Kunar province, challenging rescue and relief efforts by the Taliban government and humanitarian groups. Authorities deployed helicopters or airdropped army commandos to evacuate survivors. Aid workers walked for hours on foot to reach isolated communities.
“This is a race against time,” said Devanand Ramiah, from the UNDP’s Crisis Bureau. “Debris removal and reconstruction operations must start safely and swiftly.”
People’s main demands were the reconstruction of houses and water supplies, according to a spokesman for a Taliban government committee tasked with helping survivors, Zia ur Rahman Speenghar.
People were getting assistance in cash, food, tents, beds, and other necessities, Speenghar said Thursday. Three new roads were under construction in the Dewagal Valley, and roads would be built to areas where there previously were none.
“Various countries and organizations have offered assistance in the construction of houses but that takes time. After the second round of assistance, work will begin on the third round, which is considering what kind of houses can be built here,” the spokesman said.
Afghanistan is facing a “perfect storm” of crises, including natural disasters like the recent earthquake, said Roza Otunbayeva, who leads the U.N. mission to the country.
Afghanistan Peace Campaign
