EU Calls for Unconditional End to Girls’ Education Ban in Afghanistan

October 21, 2026
TOLOnews
TV Network
21 October 2026

The European Union has expressed concern over continued restrictions on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan and called for their unconditional removal.

The European Union has expressed concern over continued restrictions on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan and called for their unconditional removal.

Speaking at the 225th session of the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the EU stated that Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls are barred from education beyond the sixth grade, affecting more than 2.2 million girls.

In a statement, the European Union said: “The EU remains concerned about the further deterioration of the rights of women and girls in 2026 and the fact that Afghanistan is the only country where girls are denied formal education beyond grade six, with this ban affecting more than 2.2 million girls. We call for the unconditional reversal of these discriminatory policies.”

While welcoming UNESCO’s efforts to provide alternative learning opportunities for women and girls, the EU emphasized that such programs cannot replace formal, inclusive, and quality education.

Ummul Banin Haidari, a student, said: “I was in the eleventh grade when these restrictions were imposed. I might be able to continue my education elsewhere somehow, but the situation is difficult for other girls who were deprived of education in the sixth grade or above.”

Over the past five years, the international community and regional countries have repeatedly called for the removal of the ban on girls’ education beyond the sixth grade. However, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has not recently provided an official clarification on the issue.

EU Calls for Unconditional End to Girls’ Education Ban in Afghanistan
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Qatar Urges Sustained International Support for Afghanistan at Doha Meeting

October 21, 2026

Khial Hamidzai

Kabul Tribune

21 October 2026

The Kabul Tribune (KT)— Qatar’s Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad on Tuesday called for sustained international engagement and stronger coordination to address Afghanistan’s humanitarian and economic challenges.

Speaking at a meeting of the Afghanistan Coordination Group in Doha, held Oct. 20-21, Al Misnad said Afghanistan needed clear priorities, practical cooperation and long-term international support to help its people cope with worsening humanitarian needs and economic difficulties.

She thanked Switzerland, the United Nations, the World Bank and participating governments and institutions for their continued commitment to the Afghan people, emphasizing that fragmented international efforts could undermine the effectiveness of assistance.

Al Misnad said Qatar remained committed to dialogue and preventive diplomacy, noting that the country had supported political engagement on Afghanistan since the launch of the Doha peace process in 2013. Qatar has also facilitated communication among Afghan parties, the United Nations and international partners, she said.

She stressed that Afghanistan’s future should be determined through an inclusive political process led by Afghans themselves, with respect for the country’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

At the same time, she said Afghanistan’s stability was closely linked to regional security, economic connectivity and international peace.

Qatar pledges continued humanitarian support

Al Misnad said Qatar had provided and pledged nearly $150 million over the past decade for humanitarian and development projects in Afghanistan, including in health care, education and emergency response.

She warned that humanitarian needs remained severe, while economic fragility, population displacement and the return of Afghans from abroad were placing additional pressure on already strained public services and limited livelihood opportunities.

Funding shortages have added to the challenges facing aid agencies, particularly in essential health care, nutrition, education, water and food security, she said.

Al Misnad called for closer coordination among donors, U.N. agencies, international financial institutions, regional organizations and implementing partners to ensure that assistance was delivered transparently, accountably and in accordance with humanitarian principles.

She reaffirmed that Qatar would continue supporting humanitarian and development initiatives through its national institutions and in cooperation with international partners, with particular attention to vulnerable communities, women and young people.

Doha process and economic cooperation

The Qatari minister said the U.N.-led Doha Process and its working groups offered a platform for improving international coordination and advancing practical cooperation on Afghanistan.

She highlighted counter-narcotics efforts, private-sector development and other areas where international engagement could produce tangible results.

Al Misnad urged participants to maintain momentum in the process and keep Afghanistan high on the international agenda, stressing that technical cooperation should complement, rather than replace, broader political engagement.

She said the meeting should help identify shared priorities, strengthen practical cooperation and renew international commitments to the Afghan people.

The Afghanistan Coordination Group meeting in Doha brought together international partners to discuss assistance and cooperation for Afghanistan amid continuing humanitarian needs and economic pressures.

Qatar Urges Sustained International Support for Afghanistan at Doha Meeting
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Hundreds of Book Titles Removed from Markets Across Afghanistan

October 20, 2026
Mursaleen Muwahid
Multilingual Journalist & Social Media Editor
19 October 2026

Meanwhile, some booksellers say the evaluation and removal of books have affected their businesses.

تصویر بندانگشتی

 

The Ministry of Information and Culture says hundreds of book titles have been removed from markets across Afghanistan.

According to the ministry, its Book Evaluation Commission collected the books for violating established policies, values, and regulations.

The ministry’s spokesperson added that the publication of dozens of other book titles had been prevented over the past year due to noncompliance with writing and content standards and copyright regulations.

Khabib Ghufran, spokesperson for the Ministry of Information and Culture, said: “The Book Evaluation Commission assesses books based on various criteria, including writing standards, content selection, the nature of the material, and copyright compliance, before issuing publication permits.”

Meanwhile, some booksellers say the evaluation and removal of books have affected their businesses.

Karimullah, a bookseller, said: “The Islamic Emirate has collected books that contradict Islamic Sharia from across Afghanistan. Although this has caused financial losses for booksellers, its benefits have been greater.”

On the other hand, some bookstore owners have expressed concern over the slowdown in the book market and called for measures to address the challenges facing the sector.

Noor Mohammad Ahadi, a bookstore owner, said: “The Islamic Emirate should support booksellers and publishers, help them with advertising, and encourage them so that those struggling with difficult economic conditions can recover from the market downturn.”

Despite these developments, the Ministry of Information and Culture has not yet disclosed the exact number of books removed or published a list of the banned titles.

It is hoped that the book evaluation process, alongside efforts to address the challenges facing publishers and booksellers, will help improve publication quality and revive Afghanistan’s book market.

Hundreds of Book Titles Removed from Markets Across Afghanistan
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Russia Offers to Help Ease Afghanistan-Pakistan Tensions

October 20, 2026
TOLOnews
TV Network
19 October 2026

He expressed hope that the disputes between Kabul and Islamabad would soon be resolved and that crossings between the two countries would reopen.

تصویر بندانگشتی

 

The Russian Ambassador to Islamabad has emphasized Moscow’s readiness to help ease tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan and find a solution to resolve the ongoing disputes between the two countries.

Speaking at an event at the Islamabad Institute of Strategic Studies, Albert P. Khorev expressed Moscow’s concern over civilian casualties resulting from Pakistan’s actions, adding that resolving the issue would benefit not only the two countries but the entire region.

Albert P. Khorev, Russian Ambassador to Islamabad, said: “Russia is ready to help Pakistan and Afghanistan find a solution to end tensions between the two countries. As you know, our embassy in Kabul had previously expressed concern over civilian casualties resulting from Pakistan’s actions.”

The diplomat also referred to the simultaneous presence of three senior Russian officials in Kabul, Islamabad, and New Delhi, saying tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan were a key focus of their discussions and that Moscow was seeking to contribute to resolving the issue through these diplomatic efforts.

Albert P. Khorev added: “We hope this problem will be resolved soon and that the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan will reopen as quickly as possible. While Russia’s Interior Minister was visiting Islamabad, the head of Russian intelligence was in Kabul, and the Deputy Secretary of our Security Council was in New Delhi. All of them also discussed this issue. Therefore, Russia is now trying to contribute to resolving this problem through these efforts.”

The Russian Ambassador also said that tensions and the continued closure of crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan have affected Pakistan’s trade and economic relations with Central Asian countries and Russia.

He expressed hope that the disputes between Kabul and Islamabad would soon be resolved and that crossings between the two countries would reopen.

He stated: “The consequences of this situation are not limited to security and terrorism-related issues; they are now also negatively affecting trade and economic relations. The closure of the border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan has brought Pakistan’s trade with its partners in Central Asia and Russia to a halt. Alongside US sanctions, this is another factor hindering the expansion of trade relations.”

Russia’s efforts, along with those of other regional countries, to reduce tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan come as the future of relations between Kabul and Islamabad remains uncertain, with tensions between the two sides continuing.

Russia Offers to Help Ease Afghanistan-Pakistan Tensions
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Qatar Highlights Humanitarian Support for Afghanistan

October 20, 2026
Khaama Press
Qatar Highlights Humanitarian Support for Afghanistan.

Qatar has reaffirmed the importance of humanitarian diplomacy and international cooperation to protect civilians and essential water resources in conflict zones, including Afghanistan.

Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, Qatar’s Minister of State for International Cooperation, made the remarks on October 19 during a panel discussion titled “Bridging Humanitarian Diplomacy to Water Security” at the Global Security Forum 2026 in Doha, according to Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Al Misnad said Qatar contributes to humanitarian responses in conflict-affected areas through relief assistance, diplomatic engagement, mediation, reconstruction support and assistance for displaced civilians. She identified Afghanistan, Gaza, Sudan, Lebanon, Somalia and Syria among the places where such efforts are relevant.

The discussion focused on protecting water resources and essential infrastructure during armed conflicts. Al Misnad said damage to desalination plants, water-treatment facilities and distribution networks can undermine access to safe drinking water and sanitation, with long-term consequences for public health, human dignity and community resilience.

She stressed that safeguarding water infrastructure requires compliance with international humanitarian law, as well as consideration of international human rights and environmental law. She also argued that the challenge lies not only in the existence of legal protections but in ensuring that they are respected and applied consistently.

Al Misnad called for stronger international cooperation to influence parties to armed conflicts to protect essential resources and prevent interruptions to vital water services. She also encouraged the sharing of knowledge and experience to help communities withstand conflict-related disruption and improve access to clean water.

The Qatari ministry said the country has worked with regional and international partners on humanitarian initiatives and mediation efforts. Its statement also highlighted ongoing cooperation with Egypt, Türkiye and the United States aimed at advancing the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, reopening the Rafah crossing and facilitating humanitarian aid deliveries.

Afghanistan remains among the countries Qatar has identified as requiring humanitarian support. In September, Qatar also reiterated its commitment to humanitarian and development assistance for Afghans during diplomatic discussions at the United Nations General Assembly.

The latest remarks place water security and the protection of civilians at the centre of Qatar’s call for humanitarian diplomacy amid continuing conflicts and crises.

Qatar Highlights Humanitarian Support for Afghanistan
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Pakistan-Afghanistan Trade Falls 74% to $358 Million Amid Border Closures

October 19, 2026
Khaama Press
Pakistan-Afghanistan Transit Trade Drops 93%
Photo/Torkham border crossing/Trucks parked at the Torkham border terminal.

Trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan fell by 74 per cent to $358 million in the 2025-26 financial year, as prolonged border closures and rising tensions disrupted cross-border commerce, according to official Pakistani trade data reported by Dawn.

Bilateral trade dropped from $1.3 billion in 2024-25 to $358 million in 2025-26, according to figures released by Pakistan’s Trade Development Authority. The decline has affected manufacturers, transport companies, agricultural traders and communities dependent on cross-border commerce.

The Torkham crossing was closed on October 12, 2025, following deadly clashes between the two countries. Other crossings, including Kharlachi, Ghulam Khan and Angoor Adda in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Chaman in Balochistan, have also remained closed to commercial traffic, according to the report.

Afghanistan transit trade through Pakistan has also plunged. The number of transit containers fell from nearly 89,000, valued at about $5 billion before the Taliban returned to power, to 11,592 containers worth $367 million in the 2025-26 financial year. However, the decline began before the latest border closures, as Afghanistan increasingly sought alternative trade routes, particularly through Iran.

Pakistan exports pharmaceutical products, cement, plastics, rice, fruits and vegetables to Afghanistan. Its imports from Afghanistan include onions, tomatoes, agricultural seeds, grapes, dried apricots, apples, coal and unwrought lead.

The disruption has hit Pakistan’s transport and pharmaceutical industries particularly hard. Junaid Altaf, a former president of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said businesses and workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were facing growing economic difficulties. He also highlighted the province’s higher logistics costs because of its distance from major seaports and international shipping routes.

Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry has lost access to a significant export market. According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics figures cited by Dawn, the country exported about $130 million worth of pharmaceutical products to Afghanistan in 2023-24. The loss of that market could affect production, investment and employment in the sector.

Agricultural traders have also reported substantial losses. Malik Sohni, president of the All Pakistan Agricultural Produce Traders Federation, said up to 50 trucks carrying potatoes and 25 trucks carrying fresh vegetables used to travel from Pakistan to Afghanistan daily before the disruption.

Sohni said he had suffered losses of 180 million Pakistani rupees after hostilities disrupted trade and potato prices fell. He added that potato cultivation had declined by almost half, warning that reduced supply could push prices higher.

The transport sector has also come under pressure. A transporter identified by Dawn as Azeemullah said he had been forced to sell three of his five trucks because the prolonged closure made it economically unviable to redirect them to other parts of Pakistan. The disruption has also affected Pakistani exports destined for Central Asian markets.

Pakistani business leaders, however, differ over the economic consequences and the priority that should be given to reopening trade. Fuad Ishaq, a Peshawar-based businessman and former chamber president, argued that security concerns should take precedence and that Pakistani exporters could seek alternative markets. Other business representatives have called for a sustainable approach that protects security while allowing regulated trade to resume.

The trade decline comes amid deteriorating relations between Islamabad and Taliban authorities over security. Pakistan has demanded concrete, verifiable action against armed groups it says operate from Afghanistan territory and carry out attacks inside Pakistan. Taliban authorities have rejected allegations that Afghanistan’s territory is being used to launch attacks against neighbouring countries.

Pakistan-Afghanistan Trade Falls 74% to $358 Million Amid Border Closures
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OIC Pledges Continued Dialogue on Afghan Women’s Rights

October 19, 2026
TOLOnews
TV Network
18 October 2006

The two-day OIC meeting in Baghdad comes after the Islamic Emirate’s foreign minister attended previous meetings of the organization.

  • تصویر بندانگشتی

The 52nd two-day Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) began Saturday in Baghdad.

On the first day of the meeting, the OIC Secretary-General said the organization would continue discussions with Islamic Emirate officials on women’s rights to education and employment, based on Islamic values.

Ismail ibn Sheikh Ahmed also reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to addressing the humanitarian and economic needs of the Afghan people.

Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, OIC Secretary-General, said: “In Afghanistan, we continue our dialogue with the authorities on the rights of women and girls to access education and employment, based on Islamic values. We also remain committed to addressing the humanitarian and economic needs of the Afghan people.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also emphasized that the situation in countries such as Afghanistan, which face significant challenges, should remain high on the organization’s agenda. He stressed the importance of addressing these challenges, describing them as fundamental to regional security.

Jannat Fahim Chakari, a university lecturer, said: “These organizations are not independent, neither the United Nations nor the OIC. At the previous meeting in Islamabad, they established a fund for humanitarian assistance and made commitments on several other issues, but none produced results.”

The two-day OIC meeting in Baghdad comes after the Islamic Emirate’s foreign minister attended previous meetings of the organization.

However, the Islamic Emirate’s foreign minister was not invited to this meeting for reasons that remain unclear.

OIC Pledges Continued Dialogue on Afghan Women’s Rights
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Afghanistan’s economic crisis raises concerns over EU deportations

October 19, 2026

Ariana News

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European governments are stepping up engagement with Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate (IEA) authorities over the deportation of migrants, economic assistance and diplomatic representation, despite continuing to withhold formal recognition of the administration, France 24 reports.

The report draws on an investigation by Elian Peltier, The New York Times’ Pakistan and Afghanistan bureau chief, who says European officials are meeting IEA representatives more frequently than is widely known.

The growing contacts highlight the tension between Europe’s official policy of non-recognition and its practical efforts to address migration and other issues involving Afghanistan.

However, the prospect of returning Afghan migrants has raised concerns among United Nations experts and human rights organisations, which have warned about the risks of deportation under IEA rule, particularly given restrictions on fundamental rights.

Afghanistan’s persistent economic crisis adds to these concerns, with limited employment opportunities, widespread hardship and difficulties accessing basic necessities potentially leaving returnees struggling to rebuild their lives.

The developments underscore the challenge facing European governments as they seek to manage migration while weighing humanitarian concerns and the conditions awaiting deportees in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan’s economic crisis raises concerns over EU deportations
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Pakistani forces, Afghan Taliban exchange fire after militants attempt to infiltrate Pakistan

October 18, 2026
By MUNIR AHMED
Associated Press
October 17, 2026

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani forces and Afghan Taliban personnel exchanged fire at several locations along Pakistan’s northwestern border Saturday, with Pakistani security officials and state-run media saying troops backed by artillery destroyed Taliban posts.

The officials also said Pakistani troops killed an unspecified number of Pakistani Taliban militants trying to cross into Pakistan from a remote area of eastern Afghanistan during the clashes.

The fighting lasted for hours along the border in Kurram district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to three Pakistani security officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

There was no immediate comment from Afghanistan’s Taliban government.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated under repeated border clashes and Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan this year, deepening a longstanding dispute over militant activity.

Militant violence has surged in Pakistan in recent months, with much of it blamed on the Pakistani Taliban, who are formerly known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, which is separate from but closely allied with the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan says many TTP leaders and insurgents have found sanctuary in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power there in 2021, an allegation Kabul denies.

Pakistani authorities say more than 2,800 militant attacks since January have killed 3,000 people across Pakistan, mainly in the northwest and the southwestern province of Balochistan.

 

Pakistani forces, Afghan Taliban exchange fire after militants attempt to infiltrate Pakistan
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Afghanistan-Pakistan Trade Shutdown Drives Up Costs, Cuts Jobs and Disrupts Exports

October 18, 2026
Khaama Press

Afghan and Pakistani traders say nearly a year of closed border crossings has caused heavy economic losses, disrupted exports and left thousands of workers without jobs, while forcing businesses to use alternative routes that can raise shipping costs fivefold.

Khan Jan Alokozay, head of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, stated that transporting a container from Karachi to Afghanistan, which previously cost about $2,000 and took around 10 days, now costs as much as $10,000 through alternative routes, with delivery taking up to two months.

The disruption has particularly affected Afghanistan’s exports of fresh and dried fruit. Alokozay said some products are now shipped to India by air, while smaller quantities move through Iran and Central Asia. However, higher transport costs have reduced exporters’ profits and made it harder for farmers to reach foreign markets. International reporting has also documented spoiled Afghan produce, rising freight costs and the growing use of alternative trade corridors.

Pakistani businesses have also been hit by the shutdown. Shahid Hussain, a former head of the joint chamber in Peshawar, said border communities had suffered extensive job losses, affecting daily-wage workers, truck drivers, transport companies and customs agents. Traders say the suspension has also hurt Pakistani exports of cement, medicines, flour, rice and other goods to Afghanistan.

The scale of the disruption is reflected in transit-trade figures. Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported that only 11,592 containers carrying Afghan transit goods, valued at about $367 million, passed through the route in the 2025-26 financial year, compared with much higher volumes in previous years. The data also points to a sharp decline in Afghanistan exports routed through Pakistan to third-country markets.

Afghanistan has increasingly redirected imports through Iran and Central Asia, but traders say these alternatives are more expensive and take longer.

Alokozay and Hussain said they had raised traders’ concerns with officials in both countries but saw little indication that the crossings would reopen soon. They warned that continued restrictions would deepen losses for farmers, exporters, transport businesses and workers whose livelihoods depend on cross-border commerce.

The main trade crossings were closed in October 2025 following escalating clashes and tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan. The shutdown has disrupted a longstanding commercial corridor that connected Afghan businesses to Karachi’s seaports and provided Pakistani exporters with access to Afghanistan market.

Afghanistan-Pakistan Trade Shutdown Drives Up Costs, Cuts Jobs and Disrupts Exports
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