Residents of Pamir in northeastern Badakhshan province have called on authorities to establish a standard high school with boarding facilities to improve access to education for children in the remote region.

Local residents said that while several development and infrastructure projects have been implemented in Pamir in recent years, the lack of a well-equipped boarding school remains one of their main concerns.

They said long distances between villages, difficult mountainous roads and rising water levels in local lakes have made it difficult for many children to attend school regularly.

Residents of Wakhan’s Pamir-e-Kochak area said some communities are located several hours away from existing schools, with students often required to travel long distances by horse due to challenging terrain.

A 12-year-old child from the region said he dreams of attending school but cannot continue his education because of the distance and transportation challenges.

Community elders said Pamir-e-Kochak currently has eight local councils, while the three existing middle schools face shortages of facilities and teachers, making it difficult to provide quality education for students at different levels.

Mullah Abdul Haq, the district governor of the newly established Pamir district, said establishing a boarding school for high school students is one of the key demands of local residents.

He added that the issue has been shared several times with the Badakhshan Education Directorate. He said he hoped that the request would be addressed in the coming year.

Residents say a boarding school would help hundreds of children from remote areas continue their education and gain better learning opportunities.

Many Afghan students studying in Pakistan are facing growing uncertainty as delays in visa renewals leave them without valid documentation, according to the Islamic Emirate’s Consul General in Karachi, Abdul Jabbar Takhari.

Takhari said students enrolled at universities in Pakistan’s Sindh province have so far been able to continue their studies without major disruptions.

However, he noted that many have been unable to renew their visas after their existing permits expired, as Pakistani authorities have yet to issue new visas.

The delays have left a number of students in legal limbo, raising concerns about their ability to remain in the country and complete their education.

Takhari added that the situation is more challenging in some other provinces, where Afghan students are reportedly facing a greater risk of detention or deportation amid Pakistan’s ongoing campaign against undocumented foreign nationals.

The visa issues come as Pakistan continues to implement its repatriation policy for undocumented foreigners, a process that has resulted in the return of hundreds of thousands of Afghans since late 2023.

While students holding valid documentation have generally been exempt from the campaign, delays in renewing visas have heightened fears that some could become vulnerable to enforcement measures.

Afghan officials have previously called on Pakistan to facilitate visa renewals for students, warning that prolonged delays could disrupt their education and place additional pressure on young Afghans already affected by years of conflict and displacement.

India has reaffirmed that the Kabul-Delhi air corridor remains fully operational, ensuring the uninterrupted movement of commercial goods between Afghanistan and India despite ongoing regional trade and transit challenges.

Speaking at a press briefing, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the air corridor continues to facilitate trade between the two countries and remains an important link for Afghan exports and imports.

Jaiswal’s remarks followed the recent visit to India by Afghanistan’s Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Ataullah Omari, who held talks aimed at strengthening agricultural cooperation and expanding bilateral trade.

According to the Indian foreign ministry, Omari met with India’s Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Food Processing Industries and senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs. The discussions focused on boosting agricultural collaboration, enhancing food processing initiatives and exploring opportunities to increase trade between the two countries.

The Kabul–Delhi air corridor has played a significant role in maintaining commercial ties since its launch in 2017, allowing Afghan exporters to ship high-value products such as fresh and dried fruits, nuts, saffron and medicinal herbs directly to Indian markets while reducing reliance on overland transit routes.

India has increasingly sought to preserve its economic relationship with Afghanistan by supporting alternative trade and connectivity channels. In addition to humanitarian assistance, New Delhi has continued to engage with Afghan authorities on issues related to trade, agriculture and development, despite broader regional logistical challenges.

The latest discussions underscore both countries’ interest in expanding economic cooperation and ensuring that trade continues uninterrupted, with agriculture remaining a key pillar of the bilateral relationship.