Latest News
Bennett describes IEA as united but divided over girls’ education
The UN’s Special Human Rights Rapporteur for Afghanistan, said on Sunday at the Doha Forum that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has a unified vision, but is divided on the issue of women’s education.
According to Richard Bennett, a former Minister of Higher Education of the Islamic Emirate was dismissed for supporting women’s education.
He did not name the dismissed official, but before Nada Mohammad Nadim, Acting Minister of Higher Education, Abdul Baqi Haqqani was acting minister of higher education.
“The unity of the Taliban (Islamic Emirate) is one of their strengths, because they consider unity to be very important. But in the matter of education, I don’t think they have this integrity. We have seen this difference in some statements,” Bennett said.
He also said that in a meeting with the former minister of education, the official talked about providing education for girls in universities in separate classes.
“We had detailed technical discussions about the education of women and girls,” Bennett said. However, the minister was removed from his post a few months later, Bennett said.
Bennett said it was probably because “Kandahar saw his views on education as very open and progressive.”
At the same time, the special representative of the US for Afghanistan’s women’s affairs and human rights also said in this meeting that the Islamic Emirate’s policies towards women have no religious or economic basis.
Rina Amiri, criticized the restrictions imposed on women’s right to education, work, travel and political participation, and said that these restrictions have no economic basis. According to the United Nations assessment, due to the unemployment of women in Afghanistan, $1 billion dollars of income has decreased and the work ban and ban on women’s education has had a destructive effect on families.
“I don’t think it has an economic basis, certainly not,” said Amiri.
She said the United Nations has “estimated that Afghanistan has lost more than $1 billion dollars in income, and this is actually destroying Afghanistan.”
Emphasizing that banning women’s education and work has no religious basis, Amiri said that 57 countries in the world said at the meeting of the Islamic Organization that banning women’s education and work is in conflict with Islamic values.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with religion,” she said. “I was earlier at the conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation of Women in Jeddah, where 57 countries participated and said that this is against the holy religion of Islam, this is politics.”
The Islamic Emirate, however, says that human rights and women’s rights are provided within the framework of Sharia law and they do not allow outside interference in internal matters.
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.
Japan announces MEXT scholarships for Afghan students for 2027 academic year
New township to provide over 1,000 land plots for returnees in Logar
Ariana Afghan Airlines lowers cargo rates on Kabul–Delhi route to boost exports
Pakistan ambassador urges Afghan authorities to act against militant threats
Afghanistan signs $20 million contract for gold mining in Kunduz
Bayat Power extends gas supply deal with Afghan Gas
New Afghanistan-China transport corridor launched via Turkmenistan
Afghanistan’s new cricket head coach Richard Pybus arrives in Kabul
Afghanistan moves toward self-sufficiency in car battery production
Germany to launch online visa system for Afghan study and work applicants in Pakistan
Tahawol: Afghanistan and Uzbekistan’s growing economic ties discussed
Saar: Afghanistan’s relations with the world discussed
Tahawol: Discussion on unknown fate of Middle East crisis
Saar: Problems and challenges of Afghan refugees in the world discussed
Tawsia: Discussion on Afghanistan’s economic path and position
-
Business3 days agoNew Afghanistan-China transport corridor launched via Turkmenistan
-
Sport2 days agoCanada to host opening ceremony for FIFA World Cup 2026 in Toronto
-
Business5 days agoUzbekistan launches new cargo corridor linking China and Afghanistan
-
Business5 days agoAfghanistan presses Chinese contractor over delays in Mes Aynak copper project
-
Latest News2 days agoSAARC failure pushes Pakistan toward trilateral ties with Afghanistan, China, Bangladesh: Dar
-
Regional4 days agoUS and Iran closing in on one-page memo to end war, Axios reports
-
Science & Technology3 days agoJames Webb Telescope captures clearest-ever view of exoplanet’s surface
-
Sport2 days agoAfghanistan rises 7 places to 21st in FIFA Futsal World Rankings