Karin Decker, the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, stated that Afghanistan’s future is bleak without the participation of girls. She emphasized that Afghan girls deserve learning, growth, work, and advancement opportunities.

On Friday, October 11, Decker wrote on the social media platform X to mark International Day of the Girl, reaffirming that the U.S. mission tirelessly supports the right to education for Afghan girls.

“The U.S. advocates tirelessly for Afghan girls who face barriers to education and basic freedoms because every Afghan girl deserves the chance to learn, grow, work, and thrive. The future of Afghanistan cannot be assured without their contributions,” Decker said.

October 11 is designated as International Day of the Girl. On this day, many international human rights organizations and women’s rights activists reiterated the importance of girls’ education and called for the removal of restrictions on Afghan women.

Rosa Otunbayeva, head of UNAMA, announced on International Day of the Girl that it has been 1,120 days since the Taliban banned education for girls. She highlighted that Afghan girls are suffering more each day and that Afghanistan is regressing instead of progressing.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) issued a message on International Day of the Girl, stating that collective action is needed to support and remove barriers for Afghan girls. The organization emphasized the importance of investing in women’s movements and amplifying the voices of “Afghanistan’s courageous girls.”

The ongoing denial of educational opportunities for Afghan girls is a critical issue that demands urgent attention from the international community.

Supporting their right to education not only empowers these young women but also contributes to Afghanistan’s broader development and stability. Global leaders and organizations must work together to ensure that Afghan girls can realize their potential and shape a brighter future for their country.

U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan’s Women, Girls, and Human Rights, Rina Amiri, said on Friday that Afghans, especially women and girls, are facing a devastating mental health crisis due to the Taliban’s extremist policies.

“As we commemorate World Mental Health Day, I want to draw attention to the devastating mental health crisis faced by Afghans, especially women & girls, due to the Taliban’s alarming & extreme policies,” Amiri said.

“We must all be resolute in supporting them in the struggle for their rights,” she added.

Over the past three years, the Taliban has imposed widespread restrictions on the private and public lives of Afghan citizens, especially women.

Previously, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that the Taliban’s enforcement of the “Amr bil Ma’roof” law has significantly increased mental health pressures on Afghan women.

The UN agency further stated that the restrictions under this law have left many Afghan women feeling hopeless, depressed, and angry.

The continued impact of the Taliban’s harsh policies is worsening the mental health situation in Afghanistan, particularly among women who bear the brunt of these oppressive restrictions.

Global support and action are critical to addressing the mental health crisis in Afghanistan, with a focus on protecting the rights and well-being of women and girls in Afghanistan.

On International Day of the Girl, Hamid Karzai stated that girls, like boys, play a vital role in the advancement of society, and their exclusion from social life and education causes irreparable harm. He urged the Taliban to reopen schools and universities for girls.

Karzai emphasized on Friday that “we must do everything we can to educate our children and for the good and well-being of our country.”

Karin Decker, the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, stressed that Afghanistan’s future is bleak without girls’ participation in society.

On October 11, International Day of the Girl, Decker reaffirmed the U.S. mission’s commitment to supporting Afghan girls’ education.

Many international organizations reiterated the importance of girls’ education on October 11, calling for the removal of restrictions on Afghan women.

Rosa Otunbayeva of UNAMA highlighted that it has been 1,120 days since the Taliban banned education for girls, emphasizing their suffering.

The collective calls for action on International Day of the Girl underscore the urgent need to prioritize education and opportunities for Afghan girls, as their empowerment is essential for Afghanistan’s future development and stability.

The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan has signed a contract with a Uzbek company to explore and extract natural gas in the Totimaidan gas field in northern Afghanistan.

This ten-year contract, valued at approximately $1 billion, was signed by Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, and a representative from the Uzbek company.

According to the agreement, the company will invest $100 million in the first year, with the remaining $900 million spread over the next nine years.

In the project’s first two years, the extracted gas will be used to generate 100 megawatts of gas-powered electricity.

The Totimaidan gas field, located in Jawzjan province, covers an area of roughly 7,000 square kilometres and holds significant gas reserves.

Once extraction begins, the project is expected to meet Afghanistan’s domestic gas needs and create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities.

However, concerns have been raised about the contract’s transparency, given Afghanistan’s current lack of a formal constitution and established regulatory frameworks following the collapse of the republic government.

Additionally, amid the dire humanitarian crisis and ongoing questions about Taliban government spending, ensuring that the benefits of such contracts serve national interests remains a critical issue.