The United Kingdom has expressed concern over the human rights and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan during the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council.

In a statement published on September 21, the UK said restrictions on women and girls continue to limit their access to education, employment, freedom of movement and participation in public life.

It warned that the impact of these restrictions on children could be profound and long-lasting.

The UK also highlighted Afghanistan’s worsening humanitarian situation, saying more than 22 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, while food insecurity and malnutrition remain widespread.

The statement called on the international community to address the humanitarian crisis while protecting the rights of all Afghans, particularly women, girls and children.

The statement was published by the UK Mission in Geneva but was not delivered at the Human Rights Council due to time constraints.

The Islamic Emirate has repeatedly rejected criticism of its policies toward women and girls, saying their rights are protected in accordance with Sharia.

Hayatullah Muhajir Farahi, Deputy Minister for Publications at Afghanistan’s Ministry of Information and Culture, has condemned Pakistan’s latest airstrikes on Afghanistan, warning that the attacks “will not go unanswered.”

Speaking at a meeting on Tuesday, Farahi said the strikes had killed and wounded civilians, including women and children.

“Unfortunately, Pakistan has once again attacked and bombed our beloved country Afghanistan, resulting in the deaths and injuries of innocent people, particularly women and children,” Farahi said.

He said the Islamic Emirate would respond to the attacks at an appropriate time.

The remarks came a day after Pakistani fighter jets carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar and Paktika provinces. Afghan authorities said three civilians were killed and four others were wounded in Kunar. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) separately confirmed the deaths of three civilians — a man, a woman and a girl.

Pakistan said the strikes targeted militant hideouts in the border region and claimed that 28 militants were killed. Islamabad said the operation followed recent attacks on Pakistani security forces and was aimed at what it described as militant positions inside Afghanistan.

The latest strikes have further heightened tensions between the two neighbours after nearly three months of relative calm. Pakistan has repeatedly accused armed groups operating from Afghan territory of carrying out attacks inside Pakistan, while the Islamic Emirate has rejected the allegations and accused Pakistan of violating Afghanistan’s sovereignty.

Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry also summoned Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul on Monday and handed him a formal protest over the strikes, according to Afghan officials.

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has temporarily halted the deportation of 14 Afghan medical and dental students enrolled at colleges across Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Waqar Ahmad and Justice Farah Jamshed issued notices to the relevant authorities and directed them to submit written responses within 14 days. The court adjourned the case until October 12.

The students told the court that they had been admitted to medical and dental colleges under the Afghan quota through the prescribed legal process. They said Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC) had also issued them no-objection certificates (NOCs) to facilitate their visa applications.

The case follows decisions by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on July 31 and September 1 to cancel the admissions of Afghan students and direct them to return to Afghanistan as part of Pakistan’s ongoing repatriation policy.

The students’ lawyer argued that the PMDC decisions were issued without prior notice and conflicted with the NOCs previously granted by the HEC.

He also referred to a similar ruling by the Lahore High Court, which suspended PMDC orders affecting Afghan medical students.

Pending further proceedings, the Peshawar High Court has directed that the 14 students be allowed to continue their education while their case is under consideration.