Saif-ul-Islam Khyber, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue, Prevention of Vice and Hearing of Complaints, says women’s rights must be defined and upheld in accordance with Islamic Sharia, rejecting what he described as “foreign political agendas and imposed standards.”

Khyber claimed that positive changes had been made in Afghanistan in the areas of women’s rights and human rights over the past five years, describing them as unprecedented in the country’s history.

He said women’s rights under Islamic law include property ownership, inheritance, dowry, financial maintenance, protection against forced marriage, the right to choose a spouse, and the right to engage in business and economic activities.

Khyber stressed that women’s rights should not be used as a tool for political disputes or reduced to propaganda campaigns. He called on individuals and organizations that identify themselves as defenders of women’s rights to demonstrate their commitment through practical action.

He also said the rights of women and other Afghan citizens should not be subject to political bargaining, urging those concerned with human rights to adopt what he described as a practical and fair approach.

Khyber dismissed criticism and reports about the ministry’s performance regarding citizens’ rights as propaganda driven by political and intelligence objectives.

The remarks come a day after the United Kingdom, the United States and senior United Nations officials at a UN Security Council meeting called for Afghan women and girls to have a greater role in shaping their country’s future, criticizing restrictions on their rights and exclusion from public life.

Direct flights between Herat’s Khwaja Abdullah Ansari International Airport and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates have begun, marking a new air link for passengers travelling between the two cities.

Airport officials said 53 passengers were carried on the inaugural flight from Herat to Dubai, half of them Iranian nationals.

The new route is expected to operate once a week, providing passengers and business travellers with a direct connection between Herat and Dubai.

Officials at Khwaja Abdullah Ansari International Airport also said direct flights from Herat to Tehran and Istanbul are expected to launch in the coming weeks, further expanding the city’s international air connections.