UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has called on the international community to continue supporting Afghan women and girls, saying they must not be abandoned as restrictions on their rights persist.

In a message marking the fifth anniversary of the Islamic Emirate’s return to power, Mohammed said Afghan women and girls continue to bear the burden of restrictions while their hopes and aspirations for the future remain on hold.

“Afghan women must not be left behind,” she said, stressing the importance of supporting their efforts to build a better future.

The Islamic Emirate, however, maintains that women’s rights are protected within the framework of Islamic Sharia.

Its spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, has said the government remains committed to ensuring women’s rights in accordance with Sharia and that there is no cause for concern.

Afghan analysts and activists say disagreements between Kabul and the international community over women’s and girls’ rights remain a major obstacle to improving Afghanistan’s relations with the outside world.

The comments come as the United Nations and other international organizations continue to cite restrictions on women and girls as a major challenge facing Afghanistan, while urging countries to maintain support for programs benefiting Afghan women and girls.

Islamic Emirate leader Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada says he will not accept what he described as “un-Islamic” demands, stressing his commitment to what he called the religious and divine rights of the Afghan people.

According to a statement from the Kandahar Information and Culture Directorate, the supreme leader made the remarks on Saturday evening during a gathering at Kandahar’s military airfield.

He again called for unity and obedience, urging Afghans not to be influenced by what he described as “malicious propaganda” by the country’s enemies.

A number of senior civilian and military officials from Kandahar also attended the gathering.

Pakistan has allowed 724 truckloads of humanitarian aid to enter Afghanistan through the Torkham crossing, providing a vital lifeline to vulnerable families amid a prolonged closure and worsening humanitarian needs.

Mohamed Yahya, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan, said the 724 trucks carrying humanitarian supplies had crossed into Afghanistan and reached families most in need.

“Deeply grateful to the Government of Pakistan and all those who made it possible to keep the humanitarian lifeline open. Together, we delivered,” Yahya said in a post on X.

Pakistan has kept its crossings with Afghanistan closed to regular trade since October 2025 following deadly clashes and escalating security tensions. The closure also disrupted the movement of Afghan transit goods through Karachi.

The prolonged shutdown, combined with insecurity and worsening economic conditions, has displaced tens of thousands of Afghans. The United Nations and other humanitarian agencies have continued efforts to deliver life-saving food and other assistance to displaced and vulnerable families.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar welcomed the humanitarian operation, saying he was “glad to have facilitated this important humanitarian effort by the United Nations” and to have ensured assistance for people in need in Afghanistan.

The latest aid delivery comes amid continued tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan following ongoing militant attacks inside Pakistan. Islamabad has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of allowing Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups to operate from its territory, allegations denied by Kabul.

The security tensions have contributed to repeated clashes and the continued closure of the crossing to regular commercial activity.

Despite the broader tensions, Pakistan has continued to facilitate the movement of humanitarian assistance. Earlier last month, authorities allowed 21 of 26 vehicles carrying World Food Programme aid to cross into Afghanistan through Torkham.

The passage of 724 relief trucks represents a significant humanitarian corridor, allowing international agencies to deliver essential assistance to vulnerable Afghan families despite the prolonged suspension of normal trade and continuing security tensions between the two countries.