The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed the sustainable aid provided by the Japanese government in the healthcare sector for Afghanistan during a visit by a Japanese delegation to the Afghan-Japan hospital.

Wednesday, the World Health Organization shared on its social media platform X that the visit of this delegation further strengthens the collaboration between the Japanese government and WHO in Afghanistan.

Japan had previously announced its commitment to supporting Afghanistan by providing $6.9 million in collaboration with the World Health Organization to enhance Afghanistan’s capacity to respond to infectious diseases.

Japan is considered one of the significant contributors to aid efforts in Afghanistan. Following the resurgence of the current regime of the Taliban, Japan extended substantial assistance to various sectors, including earthquake victims, in Afghanistan.

The recent political changes in Afghanistan have left the nation in a state of uncertainty, compounding the already dire humanitarian crisis.

Afghanistan is facing a bleak future due to a series of challenging events, including the devastating Herat earthquake on October 7, 2023.

The forced expulsion of Afghan migrants from Pakistan during a severe humanitarian crisis and harsh winter has added to the country’s woes.

The US Embassy for Afghanistan in Doha has denied reports about the reopening of its consulate in Afghanistan. The US mission to Afghanistan in Doha, also known as the Afghanistan affairs unit, told Khaama Press that the United States’ position towards Afghanistan remains unchanged, and there are no immediate plans to resume diplomatic mission in Kabul.

“To be clear, the State Department’s position has not changed and we have no near-term plans to return any diplomatic functions to Kabul,” said a State Department spokesperson.

Previously, the voice of America reported that the United States is “cautiously” exploring the possibility of reopening its consulate in Afghanistan under the control of the Taliban, without officially recognizing the group. This development has been mentioned in a new strategic document of the U.S. Department of State.

The report suggests that this move signifies a potential shift in America’s policy towards engaging with the Taliban to achieve various security, political, and economic objectives.

However, the U.S. Embassy in Doha emphasized that there has been no change in the United States policy towards Afghanistan under Taliban control.

Additionally, the document emphasizes strong support for the U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs in their efforts to secure the release of American hostages detained in Afghanistan.

The report also underscores the United States’ dedication to discussing the fundamental rights of the Afghan people, particularly those of women and girls. Since the fall of the previous government and the Taliban’s takeover, the U.S. embassy in Afghanistan has been closed, operating with its staff in Doha.

Written By: Tabasum Nasiry

A group of Afghan scholars in exile have announced the creation of online classes to provide access to education for Afghan girls who are facing gender discrimination and educational bans in Afghanistan. According to a report by the American University, these classes have been established under the leadership of Bashir Mobasher, an Afghan researcher in the Afghanistan Legal and Political Sciences Association (ALPA).

According to this institution, the courses at this university are offered for free and cover various subjects, including gender studies, human rights, critical thinking, arts, and preparation for scholarships, especially English language education, for girls and women in Afghanistan, from the tenth grade to completion of their studies.

The American University has emphasized that since the establishment of this university, it has created 15 classes for nearly 400 girls and women and plans to expand these numbers to 30 classes due to increasing demand.

Fatima, a student who couldn’t continue her education in Afghanistan after the Taliban took over, spoke with this university and said, “Everything is closed for girls. They promised us they would open the school doors for us, but they didn’t.” She had previously been able to study mathematics, history, writing, and art in the ninth grade despite gender restrictions.

Bashir Mobasher, the head of the Afghanistan Legal and Political Sciences Association, highlighted that the current political situation in Afghanistan has created many challenges for women and girl students, and online learning potentially offers a vital lifeline for many Afghan girls who lack access to education.

According to Mr. Mobasher, these online classes are taught by professors and graduates from the American University, as well as legal and political science professors from Afghanistan in exile and other universities.

Sima Bahous, the executive director of the United Nations Women, has called the creation of online classes for girls deprived of education a “fresh hope.” She mentioned that these girls have no voice, political or otherwise, and they are not allowed to leave their homes without a male companion, go to public parks, or engage in sports. Women and girls in no other country are deprived of all aspects of life to this extent.

The American University also stated that Afghan women and girls face challenges in accessing remote education due to issues such as the lack of reliable technology and internet access, insufficient electrical infrastructure, economic constraints, and security threats.

Mental health classes are also mentioned in this report as the increasing cases of depression and suicides among Afghan girls and women are a growing concern.

This comes at a time when the number of online universities in various countries, including the United States, has increased in the past two years, despite the challenges in internet connectivity. Financial Times had previously reported that, despite internet connectivity issues, the enrollment of Afghan girls in online education, especially English language, science, and business courses, has risen.

Brian Mast, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, stated on Wednesday that contrary to the statements made by the Biden administration and the Taliban, former Afghan security forces are systematically and purposefully being killed in Afghanistan.

He accused the Biden administration of dishonesty, alleging that they do not acknowledge the reality of the targeted killings of former security forces and other former colleagues of the U.S. government in Afghanistan.

The Taliban has rejected reports from reputable international organizations and news agencies regarding the killing and torture of former security forces, attributing it to personal vendettas.

Mr. Mast referred to numerous reports from international organizations and stated that these pieces of evidence confirm the deliberate killing of former security forces.

The U.S. Congress Foreign Affairs Committee held a meeting to examine the Taliban’s reprisals against former Afghan military associates of the United States.

This gathering was attended by Republicans, Democrats, and veteran supporters of these local associates, as well as an Afghan journalist.

Brian Mast emphasized the efforts being made by the United States to investigate the Taliban’s reprisals against their former associates in Afghanistan.

Despite the Taliban’s announcement of a general amnesty following their takeover in August 2021, over 200 former Afghan soldiers and officials have been extrajudicially killed.

In its first report since the Taliban’s takeover two years ago, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has documented 800 cases of serious human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests, detentions, torture, and enforced disappearances.

Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, a significant number of former security forces from the Afghan army and police have fled to neighbouring countries. They have been driven by concerns over security threats, potential reprisals by the Taliban, and the challenging economic and financial conditions prevailing in the country.