P.O.Box 21375, Washington, D.C. 20009

Germany Presses Ahead With Legal Action Against Taliban Over Women’s Rights

September 19, 2026
18 September 2026

A source at Germany’s Foreign Ministry told Afghanistan International that Berlin, together with international partners, is pursuing efforts to hold the Taliban accountable for violations of women’s rights.

The German Foreign Ministry official said initial legal steps had been taken under Article 29 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

According to the source, Germany supports international mechanisms, including the UN-led Doha process, aimed at improving the human rights situation in Afghanistan.

The German official stressed that the country would continue its efforts to ensure Afghanistan fulfils its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry added that, together with Australia, Canada and the Netherlands, it had taken the first necessary steps under Article 29 of the convention and had contacted the Taliban administration.

Legal Process at the International Court of Justice

Australia had previously also announced that it was pursuing the legal process.

A spokesman for Australia’s Foreign Ministry told Afghanistan International that Canberra, in cooperation with Germany, Canada and the Netherlands, was pursuing legal action to hold the Taliban accountable for widespread violations of the rights of women and girls.

Under Article 29 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, disputes between member states over the interpretation or application of the convention can, after specified procedures, be referred to arbitration and ultimately to the International Court of Justice.

In September 2024, Germany, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands jointly announced that they had initiated legal proceedings under Article 29 of the convention and called on the Taliban administration to enter into dialogue over the matter.

The Rawadari human rights organisation and several other civil society groups have also recently launched campaigns urging the countries that initiated the process to continue with their commitments and legal action.

More than 20 countries have backed the move by Germany, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands to use the mechanism provided under Article 29 of the convention. They include Spain, Sweden, Belgium and South Korea.

Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, sweeping restrictions have been imposed on the rights and freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan.

Girls are barred from education beyond sixth grade, while women and girls are also prohibited from attending universities.

Women have also been excluded from many areas of public and social life, with broad restrictions imposed on their employment and freedom of movement.

In several cases, women and girls have been detained or questioned for failing to comply with Taliban dress requirements.

Human rights organisations have described the Taliban’s policies as a clear example of gender apartheid.

The Taliban has previously rejected allegations of human rights violations and discrimination against women, saying citizens’ rights in Afghanistan are protected within the framework of Sharia law and that no one is discriminated against.

 

Germany Presses Ahead With Legal Action Against Taliban Over Women’s Rights
read more

Mohib Accuses Khalilzad of “Great Betrayal” in New Book on Afghanistan’s Republic Collapse

September 19, 2026
Khaama Press

Former Afghan National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib has accused former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad of a “great betrayal” in a new book examining the collapse of Afghanistan’s republic, arguing that Washington’s direct negotiations with the Taliban sidelined Kabul’s elected government and accelerated its fall in 2021.

The book, Shadows Over Kabul: An Insider’s Account of the Fall of the Afghanistan Republic, co-authored with investigative journalist Tam Hussein, was published in English by Bloomsbury on September 17. It presents Mohib’s account of the peace process and the final years of the Afghanistan republic from inside the former government.

The book argues that Khalilzad’s appointment as the United States’ chief negotiator fundamentally changed the balance of power during the peace process. Mohib writes that then-President Ashraf Ghani viewed Khalilzad’s appointment with deep skepticism from the outset, fearing it would sideline Afghanistan’s government in favor of direct talks between Washington and the Taliban.

Mohib claims Khalilzad established contacts with Taliban representatives without informing the Afghaistan government and conducted negotiations that excluded Kabul’s officials. According to Mohib, the Taliban’s confidence increased significantly once they realized they could negotiate directly with the United States rather than through Afghanistan’s elected administration.

He further alleges that Khalilzad returned from meetings in Pakistan without briefing President Ghani or senior Afghan officials on the substance of those discussions. Mohib writes that the government later learned Khalilzad had met Taliban representatives in Pakistan, describing the move as “a great betrayal.”

Mohib also recounts traveling to Washington to warn U.S. officials that Khalilzad’s diplomacy was weakening the Afghanistan government while empowering the Taliban politically. He says he questioned whether Khalilzad’s approach reflected official U.S. policy or his own initiative, but received conflicting answers. Mohib writes that several planned meetings with U.S. State Department officials were subsequently canceled.

Criticism of the Doha peace process

Mohib’s account adds to longstanding criticism by former Afghan officials of the 2020 Doha Agreement between the United States and the Taliban. The agreement, negotiated without the Afghanistan government as a signatory, provided a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops in exchange for Taliban counterterrorism commitments and intra-Afghan negotiations.

Former members of the Afghan republic have repeatedly argued that excluding Kabul from the agreement weakened the government’s legitimacy and provided the Taliban with international political recognition before a comprehensive settlement was reached. U.S. officials, however, have maintained that the Doha deal was intended to end America’s longest war and create a pathway for peace negotiations.

Khalilzad’s role remains disputed

Khalilzad has consistently defended his role in the peace process and has rejected accusations that he was responsible for the republic’s collapse. He has argued that corruption, political divisions within the Afghanistan government, and the rapid collapse of Afghan security forces were decisive factors in the Taliban’s takeover.

The publisher’s synopsis says Mohib’s book challenges Western narratives that primarily blamed Afghan leaders for the events of August 2021, describing the collapse as the result of “Western and Afghan leaders’ betrayal.”

Mohib Accuses Khalilzad of “Great Betrayal” in New Book on Afghanistan’s Republic Collapse
read more

Gagnon: No Progress on Issues of Concern to Afghans, Int’l Community

September 19, 2026
 Ebadullah Ebadi
Journalist (Web Editor)
Tolo News
17 SEPTEMBER 2026

Gagnon also described the Doha Process as essential for continued and sustained international engagement with Afghanistan.

Georgette Gagnon, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan, referring to the fifth anniversary of the Islamic Emirate’s return to power, described some of the developments and achievements of the current government during this period as “encouraging,” but added that there has been no progress “on issues that are of profound concern to the Afghan people and the international community.”

Gagnon made the remarks on Wednesday (September 16) during a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan, where she addressed various issues, including restrictions on women and girls in the country.

Referring to developments over the past five years, she said: “They are occurring, however, in a context of no progress on issues that are of profound concern to the Afghan people and the international community: the severe restrictions on women and girls, exclusionary governance, a human rights crisis, and the continued presence of terrorist groups that threaten Afghanistan, the region, and international peace and security.”

The UN official also renewed calls for restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan to be lifted. The Islamic Emirate has repeatedly described issues related to women’s rights as an internal matter and maintained that the rights of women and girls are protected in accordance with “Sharia.”

Gagnon also described the Doha Process as essential for continued and sustained international engagement with Afghanistan.

She said: “Sustained international engagement, including through the Doha Process, remains essential. Currently, the Doha Process is the multilateral framework through which such engagement is occurring aimed at Afghanistan’s reintegration into the international community based on compliance with international obligations and commitments.”

At the end of her remarks, Gagnon emphasized the value of principled and pragmatic engagement, saying that such engagement sustains dialogue on key issues and concerns, maintains influence, reduces risks, creates opportunities for progress and, “critically, supports the needs and aspirations of the Afghan people.”

The Islamic Emirate has not yet responded to these remarks.

Gagnon: No Progress on Issues of Concern to Afghans, Int’l Community
read more

UNICEF: Over 2.6M Afghan Girls Denied Secondary Education Since 2021

September 19, 2026
Mohammad Bashir Soltani
Reporter, Political Writer
Tolo News
18 Sept. 2026

UNICEF emphasized that Afghanistan is the only country in the world where secondary and higher education remain closed to girls.

As Afghanistan marks five years since girls were banned from education beyond the sixth grade, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced that more than 2.6 million girls have been deprived of their right to secondary education since 2021.

UNICEF emphasized that Afghanistan is the only country in the world where secondary and higher education remain closed to girls.

Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s Executive Director, said: “Five years ago today, adolescent girls in Afghanistan were barred from attending secondary and high schools. Every girl has the right to learn and reach her potential. UNICEF calls on the de facto authorities in Afghanistan to reopen schools to all girls.”

The organization has called on the current authorities to immediately lift restrictions on girls’ education and allow all girls and women to return to schools and universities.

Daniel Timme, UNICEF’s Chief of Communication, said: “This ban must end because it is taking away the future of millions of girls. Moreover, we are already witnessing its devastating consequences for the country’s development, as half of the population is being denied secondary education.”

Meanwhile, Amnesty International has also called on the international community to take action to ensure that higher education is reopened to girls.

Amnesty International wrote: “Stand with the women and girls of Afghanistan and call on the international community to pressure the Taliban to immediately reopen girls’ schools.”

Five years ago, education for girls beyond the sixth grade was suspended across Afghanistan.

The issue remains unresolved, and officials of the Islamic Emirate have not recently commented on the matter.

UNICEF: Over 2.6M Afghan Girls Denied Secondary Education Since 2021
read more

Pak court blocks expulsion of Afghan medical college students

September 18, 2026
Agence France-Presse
Karachi, Pakistan
sharethis sharing button

A Pakistan court blocked on Friday an order by the country’s medical board for dozens of Afghans studying to be doctors to be expelled from colleges and universities and sent home.

‘The Lahore High Court has extended the stay order preventing the expulsion of over a hundred Afghan medical students from medical colleges until the next hearing,’ a Lahore court decision seen by AFP said.

The judge, Justice Khalid Ishaq, did not fix a date for the next hearing.

A similar petition has already been rejected by a court in Balochistan province, while another is underway in Sindh.

Earlier this month, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council said in a letter to academic institutes that no ‘form of facilitation of Afghan nationals is permitted for the current academic session’.

The order sparked dismay among Afghan students, one who said: ‘It was like the death of my hopes to become a doctor.’

The PMDC letter to college deans said: ‘Afghans previously enrolled in medical or dental programs in Pakistan are required to return to Afghanistan.’

The letter, a copy of which was seen by AFP, did not say on whose authority the medical council was acting, but said: ‘The matter is of highest priority and relates to national policy directions.’

Relations between neighbours Pakistan and Afghanistan have plummeted since the Taliban government’s return to power in Kabul in 2021, and escalated into weeks of war earlier this year.

More than 2.5 million Afghans — many who spent decades living as refugees in Pakistan — have been expelled or left voluntarily over the past three years, according to UN data, as part of a deportation drive by Islamabad.

Human Rights Watch urged authorities to reverse the PMDC order, highlighting the plight of women who are banned from studying in Afghanistan.

Amnesty International slammed the move as ‘discriminatory and arbitrary’.

Among the Lahore petitioners is a 23-year-old who was just days away from finishing her second-year studies when she was told she must ‘go back and leave everything’.

A judge suspended the expulsion order at the provincial level on September 11, but the student said her records have already been expunged from the university’s online platform.

The undergraduate was forced to end her medical studies in Afghanistan after Taliban authorities banned women from universities.

She said she was one of about 20 Afghan women, out of 30,000 applicants, to win a scholarship in Pakistan.

‘I will never give up. I learned from this journey that sadness doesn’t bring anything,’ she told an AFP journalist in Kabul by phone.

Asad Jamal, one of several lawyers representing the students in Lahore, criticised the PMDC orders which he said failed to provide medics with ‘any opportunity to be heard’.

Jamal said even if the students lose their Lahore petition, the case could still be taken to Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court.

Mubin Ulfati, a final-year student in Lahore, had just returned from a hospital shift when he was given 24 hours to leave the country.

‘We are medical students; we know how to manage shocking news. But this wasn’t something very manageable,’ the 24-year-old said.

‘We are clearly victims’ of a political situation.

Some Afghan medics had been deported even before the PMDC order, such as a fourth-year student who tried unsuccessfully for more than a year to renew his visa.

‘We are only students. We are not political people,’ said the medic, who was specialising in ophthalmology.

The 33-year-old was pulled out of the operating theatre and expelled within two days.

‘Please, let us finish our studies,’ he said. ‘We will finish, and we will go back to our country.’

Pak court blocks expulsion of Afghan medical college students
read more

Taliban warns Pakistan of ‘crushing response’ to any military operation in Afghanistan

September 18, 2026
FirstPost
FP News Desk
Sep 18, 2026
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Kabul will defend its territory against any Pakistani strikes, while rejecting allegations that Afghanistan shelters militants targeting Pakistan

Taliban has warned Pakistan against carrying out military operations inside Afghanistan while rejecting Islamabad’s accusations that Afghan territory is being used by militant groups to launch attacks across the border.

In an interview with Al Arabiya, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghanistan would defend its sovereignty if Pakistan carried out strikes inside the country.

“If Pakistan invokes Article 51 to violate the sanctity of Afghan territory, Afghanistan has the right to defend its country, and we will do so,” Al Arabiya quoted Mujahid as saying, warning of a “crushing response” to any violation of Afghan sovereignty.

Mujahid said Pakistan should address its security challenges internally instead of blaming Afghanistan, arguing that unrest involving the TTP and Baloch groups predates the Taliban’s return to power.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban of sheltering members of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in Afghanistan and allowing them to use Afghan territory to plan and carry out attacks in Pakistan. The Taliban rejects the allegation.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021 and escalated into weeks of war earlier this year.

More than 2.5 million Afghans, many of whom spent decades living as refugees in Pakistan, have been expelled or left voluntarily over the past three years, according to UN data, as part of a deportation drive by Islamabad.

Despite the tensions, Mujahid said Afghanistan wants dialogue with Pakistan and called for stronger mechanisms for intelligence-sharing and cooperation.

He also welcomed a larger Saudi role in mediating between Kabul and Islamabad, saying the Kingdom is a friend of both countries and can play a “positive role” in resolving their differences.

With inputs from agencies

Taliban warns Pakistan of ‘crushing response’ to any military operation in Afghanistan
read more

Security Council LIVE: ‘Being a woman is a crime in Afghanistan,’ civil society briefer declares

September 16, 2026
Peace and Security

Since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, the continuing presence of terrorist groups as well as rights violations against women and girls are a growing concern as the Security Council meets Wednesday to hear the latest updates, including from a civil society representative who said being born as a woman in the country “is a crime”.

What you need to know

  • Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, the plight of Afghans has only deteriorated, with millions impoverished while authorities violate basic human rights daily, according to the UN Human Rights Office
  • Women, in particular, are facing the brunt of the Taliban rule, and since 2021, over two million Afghan girls and women have been denied access to secondary and higher education
  • Both women and men are being arrested by the Taliban’s Office for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, primarily for alleged violations of strict dress codes, beard length, and the playing of, or listening to, music
  • Censorship of the media, temporary closures of media outlets and arrests of journalists also continue. 
  • At least 449 men and women were subjected to corporal punishment by the de facto authorities in the first half of the year, according to the UN.

In brief – Afghanistan

Facts:  UNAMA said Taliban authorities highlight security and economic gains after five years in power, but Afghanistan continues to face severe restrictions on women and girls, human rights abuses, exclusionary governance and terrorist threats.  Speakers also warned of worsening humanitarian needs, refugee returns, media restrictions and growing regional security concerns.

Impact:  Council members broadly agreed that restrictions on women and girls remain the main obstacle to Afghanistan’s recovery and international reintegration.  Terrorist threats, economic fragility, mass returns and humanitarian shortfalls continue to undermine stability.  Divisions persist, however, over whether engagement or greater pressure offers the best path forward.

Call to Action:  Speakers urged the Taliban to restore women’s rights, permit female UN staff to work, build inclusive governance structures and meet counter-terrorism commitments.  Donors were encouraged to sustain humanitarian funding, while the UN and Security Council were called on to maintain principled engagement, accountability efforts and support for political dialogue.

Relative calm must not be mistaken for peace

Uploaded image

©UN Web TV

Afghanistan’s delegate said that five years is “long enough to judge the situation by actions”.

There is still no inclusive political system, no accepted constitutional framework and no accountable institutions through which Afghans can influence decisions affecting their lives.

“The absence of large-scale war should not be mistaken for sustainable peace,” he said.

The repression of women and girls is “not only a women’s rights crisis” but also a national crisis affecting Afghanistan’s economy, health, education and development and long-term stability.  Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where women and girls are formally denied education beyond the primary level.

The international community must abandon the false choice between isolation and normalization, he said, calling for principled and outcome-oriented engagement aiming towards legitimate and accountable governance.  UNAMA should work to create conditions for a political solution, he stressed.

Context:  What’s the UN doing in Afghanistan?
Uploaded imageUNICEF

The UN established the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan, an inter-agency mechanism to support joint programming in the provision of basic human needs in Afghanistan.  Here’s a snapshot of ongoing UN initiatives:

  • In Kandahar, UN agencies are helping farmers build sustainable livelihoods through agricultural inputs and technical assistance, creating new opportunities for families previously dependent on opium poppy cultivation
  • World Health Organization (WHO):  Supporting the expansion of efforts to expand women’s access to specialized treatment for obstetric fistula, including surgery, counseling and follow-up care
  • UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF):  Supported the delivery of essential health services for over 6 million people, including women and children

Find out more about UN efforts in Afghanistan here.

United States demands results from Taliban
Uploaded image©UN Web TV

The representative of the United States said Washington will not tolerate the Taliban using American citizens as “bargaining chips”.

Condemning the group’s record, he said:  “I’ve seen them hang children, terrorize families, pillage whole villages and prey on the very people they claim to represent.”

He also lamented that Afghanistan remains the only country where girls and women are barred from higher education, saying that after 20 years of progress, “that door is now closed on them”.

Stressing the need for accountability, he added:  “This Council must demand results from the Taliban regime.”

Context: Winter is coming
Afghans returning from Pakistan are trying to rebuild their lives from scratch, said the UN emergency relief agency, OCHA.They need a safe place to sleep, education for their children and opportunities to earn a living.

With a harsh winter approaching, they also need urgent support now.

Security Council LIVE: ‘Being a woman is a crime in Afghanistan,’ civil society briefer declares
read more

France Urges Kabul to Remove Barriers to Afghanistan’s Return to Global Community

September 16, 2026
Khaama Press

France has urged the Taliban to remove the political, human rights and security obstacles preventing Afghanistan’s reintegration into the international community, telling the UN Security Council that the next steps in the Doha process depend on the group responding to longstanding international demands.

Speaking during a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan on Wednesday, Jérôme Bonnafont, France’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said the international community had listened to the Taliban’s concerns through the UN-led Doha engagement process and now expected the Taliban to address the concerns of the Security Council and the wider international community.

Bonnafont said France supports continued diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan but stressed that meaningful progress requires concrete action by the Taliban rather than further demands for international recognition.

The French envoy identified several priorities that the Security Council has repeatedly raised with the Taliban, including the formation of an inclusive government representing Afghanistan’s ethnic and political diversity, unrestricted humanitarian access, stronger action against terrorism and drug trafficking, and respect for fundamental human rights.

France says women’s rights remain the central obstacle

Bonnafont said restrictions imposed on Afghan women and girls continue to undermine Afghanistan’s future and remain one of the principal reasons the country remains internationally isolated.

He said barring women from education, employment and public life deprives Afghanistan’s economy of half of its potential workforce while weakening the country’s long-term development prospects. He also warned that restrictions on women’s access to healthcare have serious humanitarian and public health consequences.

France described the Taliban’s continued ban on Afghan women working for UN agencies inside Afghanistan as “unacceptable,” saying it hampers humanitarian operations and limits the United Nations’ ability to deliver assistance to millions of vulnerable Afghans.

The envoy called on the Taliban to reverse policies restricting women’s participation in society and allow them to return to schools, universities, workplaces and public institutions.

Inclusive political dialogue and security concerns

Bonnafont said lasting peace in Afghanistan cannot be achieved without inclusive political dialogue involving opposition groups, civil society representatives, women and ethnic and religious minorities.

He also urged the Taliban to demonstrate credible action against terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan and strengthen efforts to combat narcotics trafficking, issues that remain major concerns for neighboring countries and the broader international community.

France’s remarks come as the UN continues its Doha process, a diplomatic framework aimed at increasing engagement with Afghanistan while pressing the Taliban to meet international commitments on governance, human rights and security.

International recognition still out of reach

Nearly five years after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, no country except Russia has formally recognized the Taliban government. Western governments have maintained that normalization of relations depends on measurable improvements in women’s rights, inclusive governance and counterterrorism commitments.

Bonnafont said Afghanistan’s return to the international community remains possible, but only if the Taliban take concrete steps to remove the barriers that continue to isolate the country diplomatically, politically and economically.

France Urges Kabul to Remove Barriers to Afghanistan’s Return to Global Community
read more

Pakistan Court Rejects Afghan Students’ Medical Study Petition

September 16, 2026

Hadia Ziaei

Tolo News

16 September 2026

At the same time, a number of university professors have emphasized that education, particularly medical education, should not be politicized.

Following the recent decision by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council to expel Afghan students, and the filing of complaints in several courts, the Balochistan High Court has recently rejected a petition by a number of Afghan students seeking to continue their medical studies and specialist training in Pakistan.

According to Pakistani media reports, the court stated that foreign nationals do not have an absolute or permanent right to reside and study in Pakistan contrary to government policies.

Imran, an Afghan student in Balochistan, said: “I call on the Government of Pakistan, the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, and the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council not to allow our education to remain incomplete. They should let us obtain our graduation certificates and then return to our homeland.”

At the same time, a number of university professors have emphasized that education, particularly medical education, should not be politicized.

Zakiullah Mohammadi, a university professor, said: “There is no provision in any international law or organization that allows students who legally entered a country with visas and scholarships to complete their studies to be expelled. No government has the right to expel students who have committed no crime or caused any problem.”

Ismail Roshangar, another university professor, said: “What is important for these students to continue their education is the transfer of their academic credits through official transcripts, enabling them to continue their studies in Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan should provide these opportunities.”

This year, the Pakistani government has adopted stricter policies toward Afghan students and doctors and has also expelled some of them. Meanwhile, the recent decision by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has drawn widespread international reactions, particularly from political parties and opponents of the Pakistani government. In Kabul, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has also announced its readiness to provide opportunities for expelled students to continue their education in Afghanistan.

Pakistan Court Rejects Afghan Students’ Medical Study Petition
read more

Balkhi: Afghanistan Seeks Formal Diplomatic Relations With US

September 16, 2026
Hadia Ziaei
Tolo News
16 September 2026

On recognition of the Islamic Emirate, Balkhi said Afghanistan, as a country, is recognized by the international community.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told CBS News that following the withdrawal of foreign forces, Afghanistan is no longer witnessing their direct interference in the country’s domestic and foreign affairs.

On recognition of the Islamic Emirate, Balkhi said Afghanistan, as a country, is recognized by the international community. He stressed that Kabul seeks formal diplomatic relations with all countries, including the United States.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, said: “I think one of the provisions of the Doha Agreement was that following the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, relations would normalize and the United States would contribute to the reconstruction of the country. That was our position then, and it remains our position today: Afghanistan has opened its doors to everyone, including the United States, should they wish to return with a diplomatic presence and development projects to help rebuild the country.”

Political analyst Idris Mohammadi Zazai said: “There are still unresolved issues between the United States or the international community and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. These issues need to be discussed so that the sides can reach an understanding—one that does not contradict Sharia, culture, or national values.”

Balkhi rejected claims that more than 100 directives targeting women and girls have been issued, calling them propaganda against Afghanistan. He stressed that the suspension of girls’ education beyond sixth grade does not mean they have been deprived of that right and that girls’ education should not be used as a bargaining issue for recognition of the Islamic Emirate. He also rejected claims about the existence of “secret schools.”

Balkhi said: “They can study at home, online, or through an educational institution abroad. Or they can go to another home where teachers are present and teach subjects they are interested in. This is not secret. It is not underground. There is no fear involved. This is something they can pursue if they wish.”

Over the past five years, Russia has been the only country to formally recognize the Islamic Emirate. Islamic Emirate officials have repeatedly said that Afghanistan seeks a balanced foreign policy and expanded diplomatic relations with all countries around the world.

Balkhi: Afghanistan Seeks Formal Diplomatic Relations With US
read more

Recent Posts