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An overview of social situation in Afghanistan during four years of IEA rule
“If schools do not reopen and girls are not allowed to continue their education, the future of Afghanistan may be dark,” said a school student.
Over the past four years of the Islamic Emirate’s rule in Afghanistan, there have been ongoing challenges in the area of human rights. Girls have been barred from attending schools beyond the sixth grade for a fourth consecutive year, and the gates of universities remain closed to them.
During this time, the imposition of restrictions on women’s employment has also been one of the social challenges.
In addition, girls have been prohibited from attending health institutes—an issue that could pose serious problems for the country’s healthcare sector in the future.
The continued closure of schools and universities has had increasingly negative effects on the morale of girls, leaving them hopeless about a brighter future.
A student said on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the IEA’s return to power: “If schools do not reopen and girls are not allowed to continue their education, the future of Afghanistan may be dark. For example, when we go to a hospital, there may be no female doctors, and in schools, there may be no female teachers. Illiteracy can have negative effects on future generations.”
Another student said: “I am a student who was forced to stop studying after the regime change. My biggest wish is to be able to finish my education. Over the past four years, nothing has been done to bring hope to girls regarding their right to education. Even though we have lost hope, our goal is still to complete our education.”
However, IEA has repeatedly stated that efforts are underway to resolve the issue of girls’ education.
Meanwhile, the forced deportation of Afghan migrants has been another major development over the past two years.
Like Pakistan, Iran has also initiated the mass and forced expulsion of Afghans. In less than two months this year, more than one million people have been sent back to Afghanistan.
So far, over four million migrants have returned to the country, and they are in urgent need of shelter and employment.
At the same time, IEA has announced the construction of more than 50 residential townships for returnees across 28 provinces.
Although IEA has repeatedly called for the gradual return of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan, both Islamabad and Tehran have not responded positively to Kabul’s requests.
One of the notable aspects of this mass deportation process has been the solidarity and support shown by local communities toward returnees.
While there is hope that the challenges of returnees may eventually be resolved, many believe that the mistreatment and harsh behavior of Pakistani and Iranian security forces toward Afghan migrants will not be forgotten.
The Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan has announced scholarship opportunities for Afghan students under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program for the 2027 academic year.
According to the embassy, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan is offering scholarships for graduate-level study at Japanese universities under the research student category, including both regular and non-regular students.
Interested and eligible applicants can download the application guidelines and forms from the official Study in Japan website and are advised to carefully review all requirements before applying.
Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and have prepared all required documents must submit their applications by 25 May 2026. The embassy said late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.
The first screening process will include a written examination in Kabul on 18 June 2026, followed by interviews scheduled for July 2026 (date to be confirmed).
The Embassy of Japan noted that the Aga Khan Foundation Afghanistan will assist in collecting applications and facilitating written examinations, but will not be involved in the selection process.
It further emphasized that the selection will be conducted independently by the embassy and the Japanese government, based on academic merit, quality of application documents, and performance in written and interview examinations, without consideration of religious, linguistic, or ethnic background.
The scholarship program is fully funded and free of charge. The embassy warned applicants to remain cautious against scams, stressing that no financial contributions are required at any stage of the application process.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, has launched the distribution of more than 1,000 residential land plots for returning migrants in Logar province.
During a visit to Logar, Hanafi inaugurated a new township and said the initiative aims to support Afghan returnees by providing them with housing opportunities and improving settlement conditions.
He called for speeding up the process of distributing residential plots designated for migrants, stressing the importance of timely implementation.
“We inaugurated this township today, which includes more than 1,000 plots. These plots will be distributed to migrants. In addition, other townships will also be constructed soon,” he said.
Hanafi also noted that over the past three years, more than five million Afghan migrants have returned from neighboring countries, adding that efforts are underway to provide them with essential services and support their reintegration.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, has urged the Afghan authorities to take concrete action against militant threats that Islamabad says originate from Afghan soil.
Speaking at an event at the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul marking the first anniversary of Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos against India, Nizamani reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining “brotherly ties” with Afghanistan.
The ambassador also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in reducing tensions between Iran and the United States, saying Islamabad’s initiatives reflected its commitment to regional and global peace.
During the ceremony, Nizamani reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to defend itself against any aggression.
“Pakistan’s desire for peace must never be mistaken for weakness,” the ambassador said, calling for heightened vigilance against regional threats.
Pakistani officials have consistently claimed that militants use Afghan soil to attack Pakistan. The Islamic Emirate, however, has denied this claim and said that Afghanistan is not responsible for Pakistan’s security failures.
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