Hamid Karzai, the former president of Afghanistan, said in recent remarks that the continuation of the ban on girls’ education and the ongoing closure of schools and universities to them will weaken national capacity, increase severe need, and lead Afghanistan toward dependence on foreign countries.

Karzai said in a statement: “While I consider universal education vital, I once again emphasize that the doors of schools and universities must be opened to girls as soon as possible. By providing opportunities for education and learning to young people—both girls and boys—the country’s problems and needs can be resolved by the capable hands of its own children, and Afghanistan can be freed from external dependence.”

Karzai made these remarks in response to a recent report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). According to the report, by 2030 Afghanistan will face a shortage of more than 20,000 teachers and over 5,000 female healthcare workers, and the number of girls deprived of education will exceed two million.

Austria will sign an agreement with Uzbekistan next month to facilitate deportations, including the return of Afghan nationals via the Central Asian country, Austria’s Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.

The move comes as several European Union member states explore partnerships outside the bloc to manage deportations and establish so-called “return hubs” for failed asylum seekers as part of broader efforts to curb irregular migration.

While EU institutions continue negotiating the legal framework for such arrangements, a group of countries — including Denmark, Austria, Greece, Germany and Netherlands — announced in March that they would proceed with planning and coordination.

According to a government statement, Austria’s interior and foreign ministers are scheduled to travel to Uzbekistan on 7 May to formally sign the agreement.

Interior Ministry spokesman Markus Haindl said the deal would provide an important transit route for people facing deportation to their countries of origin, “especially Afghanistan.”

Austria has already deported several Afghan nationals since last year, signalling a policy shift following the Islamic Emirate takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.

Vienna has also resumed returns of Syrian nationals after the fall of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in 2024.

The European Union is currently developing broader plans to increase deportations of migrants without legal status in the bloc, including possible returns to Afghanistan, despite warnings from rights groups and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

A former official of the United Nations has warned that Afghanistan is facing one of the most complex and severe humanitarian and protection crises in the world.

Indrika Ratwatte, former deputy special representative of the UN Secretary-General in Afghanistan, said in a recent article that restrictions on women and girls—particularly in education and employment—combined with widespread poverty and economic hardship, have made life increasingly difficult for millions.

He noted that these restrictions have significantly limited access to essential services and reduced the ability of half the population to cope with ongoing challenges, while also complicating humanitarian aid delivery efforts.

Ratwatte added that nearly five million Afghans have returned from neighboring countries over the past two years, placing immense pressure on already strained basic services. Many of the returnees, he said, arrived with limited resources and are in urgent need of assistance.

He also highlighted the impact of recurring natural disasters, including droughts, floods and earthquakes, which have worsened living conditions and destroyed homes and livelihoods.

While humanitarian organizations continue to provide assistance to millions, Ratwatte stressed that needs remain far greater than available funding.

He called on the international community to sustain its support to help Afghanistan navigate the ongoing crisis.

Meanwhile, officials of the Islamic Emirate say they are pursuing long-term development and infrastructure programs aimed at improving economic conditions and reducing the country’s challenges over time.