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Education Ministry bans school girls over 12 from singing in public
The Ministry of Education has banned all school girls over the age of 12 from singing or performing at public performances.
A letter from the Kabul Education Department states that male teachers and educators are also not allowed to teach school girls over the age of 12, and that if they fail to abide by this rule they could face legal action.
The ban would apply to all government and private schools, the letter stated.
The decision has sparked an outcry among social media users and other critics.
Women in particular have slammed the decision, saying that sensitive decisions especially relating to gender should not be taken by educational institutions.
But the Ministry of Education says the decision was made following an order from the National Assembly and at the suggestion of some families.
“According to the order of the Ministry of Education, all public and private schools should organize singing groups for female students so that their members are girls under 12 years old.
“The letter states that male educators cannot educate girls over the age of 12,” one official said.
Najiba Arian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, confirmed the ban.
Arian said the decision was made following complaints by families of the “heavy load of studies on the shoulders of the students in high school and middle school”.
Based on the decision, girls who are over the age of 12 are only allowed to sing the national anthem and other cultural songs at womens-only gatherings.
The principals of schools have also been warned that they will face legal action if they break these rules.
Critics have described the move as imposing limitations on the civil liberties of women and girls.
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UNAMA, Pakistan discuss security, human rights, and regional cooperation
Pakistan’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, met with a senior UNAMA delegation led by Indrika Ratwatte, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, along with Malick Ceesay, Head of the UNAMA Liaison Office in Islamabad.
During the meeting, both sides discussed the current human rights situation, security developments, regional trade, and other key issues concerning Afghanistan and neighboring countries, Sadiq said on X.
Mohammad Sadiq emphasized Pakistan’s concerns about terrorism, stressing that terrorist groups operating from inside Afghanistan pose serious security challenges for the region. He underscored the importance of preventing the use of Afghan soil against any country and called for coordinated regional and international action to counter shared threats.
The discussions reaffirmed the importance of continued engagement, cooperation, and humanitarian support. Both sides highlighted the need to strengthen joint efforts on stability, counterterrorism, and sustainable economic development across the region.
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U.S. says review of Afghanistan policy still underway
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State S. Paul Kapur told a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Wednesday that Washington’s review of its Afghanistan policy remains in progress.
He said the process is “inter-agency” and involves multiple departments across the U.S. government, adding that there are “many moving pieces.” Kapur noted that he could not provide a clear timeline for completion but pledged to keep lawmakers informed:
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the 2021 military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
He has also faulted the decision to leave military equipment behind and the abandonment of the Bagram Air Base.
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Pakistan appoints two consuls general in Kandahar and Mazar-e-Sharif
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan has appointed 19 new ambassadors and consuls general for its overseas missions.
Among these appointments, Shahbaz Hussain and Awais Ahmad Khan have been named as Pakistan’s consuls general in Kandahar and Mazar-e-Sharif, respectively.
Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, said in a post on X that these appointments were made with the approval of Shahbaz Sharif, the country’s Prime Minister.
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