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NRC chief writes to Kandahar governor, clerics over ban on female workers
Jan Egeland, the Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, has written a letter to the governor and members of Ulema Council in Kandahar, calling for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to reverse its ban on women working for non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Speaking in an interview with Ariana News that was broadcast on Friday, Egeland said they would resume operations with women observing Islamic principles and Afghan culture if IEA allows them to work for NGOs.
“Giving aid only to males would be bad aid, and we would be a bad employer. It is not that we are suspending work. We have been forced to stop by this edict, and it is the first time in 20 years that we have been totally paralyzed,” Egeland said.
He said that the ban on women’s work is against IEA’s promises.
“This is also against the promises from high-level Taliban (IEA) leaders in Doha, in Oslo, in Islamabad and here in Afghanistan where we worked in Taliban-controlled areas for more than a decade, we had schools in Taliban areas. We have a long history of working with them and this is a real blow. I feel disappointed. I feel that they did not keep their word to me,” Egeland said.
IEA last month ordered all local and foreign aid groups to stop letting female staff work until further notice.
The IEA said the move, which was condemned globally, was justified because some women had not adhered to the Islamic dress code.
Many NGOs suspended operations in response, saying they needed female workers to reach women in the country.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has announced that it will continue providing its essential health services to the people of Afghanistan.
In a post on X, the organization, referring to Afghanistan’s health needs, said that over the past year it has been active in various health sectors across the country, ranging from maternal and child care to emergency response, as well as the treatment of patients suffering from tuberculosis and severe injuries.
According to MSF, its teams over the past year have been present at a range of health facilities, including neonatal intensive care units, operating theatres, surgical centers, and specialized tuberculosis treatment wards, where they have delivered life-saving services to patients.
The organization stressed that it will continue ensuring the provision of health services, particularly for needy families and vulnerable communities in remote areas of Afghanistan.
The Embassy of Afghanistan in Japan, currently run by diplomats of the previous government, has announced that it will suspend its operations in Tokyo after the end of January 2026.
In a statement issued on Friday, the embassy said the decision was made after consultations with Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in close coordination with Japanese authorities, and in accordance with the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The embassy added that after January 31, all of its political, economic, cultural, and consular activities will be halted until further notice.
Currently, Shaida Abdali is serving as Afghanistan’s ambassador to Japan.
Sadin Ayyıldız, Chargé d’Affaires of the Turkish Embassy in Kabul, held a courtesy meeting with Zakir Jalali, the Second Political Deputy of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the occasion of the start of his mission.
The Turkish Embassy in Kabul said in a post that the meeting included mutual exchanges of views on bilateral relations.
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