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Afghanistan’s public universities reopen after six months
Afghan government universities reopened to male and female students on Saturday after a hiatus of six months.
The move has been widely welcomed by students across the country.
Girls and boys at Kabul University who are resuming their studies have meanwhile appealed to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to provide them with more facilities for the duration of their studies.
The gates of public universities were reopened on the basis of a calendar set by the Ministry of Higher Education.
However ministry officials have not commented on the mechanism of students’ lessons for the upcoming academic year.
Shukria Hujat, a student at the Faculty of Environment at Kabul University of Education, is one of the students who returned to her class.
Hujat says she is happy to return to class, but was surprised by the changes on campus.
“There have been many changes in the university in terms of curriculum and environment. It is more like a Madrasa than a university. Girls are more concerned with their clothes and behavior than their lessons,” Hujat said.
Kabul University is the largest educational center in Afghanistan with thousands of students enrolled there.
On Saturday the bell for the 1401 academic year was rung here as well.
Girls meanwhile are extremely happy to be back after having lost hope for a while.
“Before university started, we had lost hope. We had no hope of coming back to university and studying. There were rumors that there was no study. We were very disappointed with the female class,” said Hussnia Mutasim, student.
“I am happy that the lessons have started. I met my classmates also and the professors came to teach us and we have achieved our basic right to education,” said another student Halima Mutasim.
The male students also want the university environment to be safe for girls and the study conditions to be favorable in accordance with Sharia law, but they want the Islamic Emirate to completely eradicate the atmosphere of prejudice from this educational center.
“Because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the change of regime, the students have been absent from lessons for almost a year, and it is a good thing that the universities have started again today,” said Fayaz Ahmad, a male student.
In the early days of the Islamic Emirate government, the Ministry of Higher Education said that they would create a new mechanism for government universities. Despite universities having reopened, the ministry has not made the new mechanism public.
Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the Minister of Defense of the Islamic Emirate, says that Afghanistan currently has a unified central government, and that no groups engaging in destructive activities are present in the country. He added that they will not allow anyone to undermine the country’s security.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defense, Mujahid made these remarks at a graduation ceremony for commandos of the Special Forces Division. The ceremony was attended by Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Minister of Interior; several cabinet ministers; foreign ambassadors and military attachés; special representatives; and a number of officials and military personnel.
Addressing the commandos, Yaqoob Mujahid said: “In the service you perform, make the pleasure of Almighty Allah your sole intention, because Almighty Allah will reward you for such an intention in this world and the hereafter. There is now a unified central government in the country, and no groups engaging in destructive activities are present. We will also not allow anyone to undermine security.”
He also added: “I assure our people that these forces will defend the lives, property, and territory of their beloved country with full courage and wisdom. I tell all foreign countries that Afghanistan is now secure, and there is no enemy in this country, whether from within or outside, that poses a threat to others.”
At the ceremony, Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani also said: “For half a century, Afghanistan did not have an independent army. However, now, it has an organized army and other security forces. You are not a ceremonial army, nor do you operate to serve the interests of others; rather, you are an organized and independent army. Although we may be materially weak, we are stronger than others in terms of morale and spirituality. We must maintain high morale, avoid acting emotionally in military affairs, and respond to the enemy at the appropriate time. We are not a threat to anyone; rather, we are defenders of our own land.”
It is worth noting that 1,000 young commandos of the Special Forces Division of the Ministry of Defense graduated from the eighth training course after completing six months of professional, ideological, and commando training.
During the ceremony, the graduating commandos, in cooperation with the Air Force, demonstrated coordinated practical and military exercises using various types of unmanned aircraft.
The action plan for establishing special economic zones across the country was approved on Wednesday by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs.
According to a decree issued by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate, these special economic zones will be established in the provinces of Kabul, Balkh, Nangarhar, Kandahar, Herat, Paktia, and Kunduz.
Under the plan, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in cooperation with other relevant ministries and government agencies, will identify the land required for these zones, determine the necessary sectoral activities and services, and create the conditions needed to attract investment.
The establishment of these special economic zones is aimed at attracting new investments, achieving a relative balance between exports and imports, and expanding production activities in a suitable environment, paving the way for a new phase of economic development in the country.
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Russian deputy prime minister to visit Kabul with high-level economic delegation
The visit aims to strengthen economic and trade relations between Afghanistan and Russia, explore investment opportunities and discuss potential joint economic projects.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk is scheduled to visit Kabul on Thursday, leading a high-level economic delegation, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.
According to a statement by the ministry, the visit aims to strengthen economic and trade relations between Afghanistan and Russia, explore investment opportunities and discuss potential joint economic projects.
The visit is expected to provide an opportunity for officials from both countries to discuss ways of expanding bilateral economic cooperation and identifying new areas for trade and investment.
The ministry did not provide further details about the delegation’s programme or the specific projects expected to be discussed during the visit.
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