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Richard Bennett reports to UNGA, says Afghanistan is facing many challenges
The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, said on Tuesday that Afghanistan is facing a convergence of challenges, including a deteriorating human rights situation.
He said in a report to the UN General Assembly this was due to the Islamic Emirates repressive policies and practices, a culture of impunity, an ongoing humanitarian and economic crisis, recent deadly earthquakes, and the possibility of massive involuntary returns [from Pakistan], all of which require urgent action to avoid further suffering and potential instability in the country and the region.
He said: “A grave picture has emerged, providing a glimpse of what may lie ahead for the human rights of many Afghans, particularly women and girls, and also for other groups including human rights defenders, journalists, ethnic and linguistic minorities, LGBTI persons, persons with disabilities, former government officials and military and security personnel.”
He also said the recent earthquakes had severely affected already vulnerable communities in Herat, and urged the international community to provide needed assistance.
The expert stressed the need to resume the education of girls beyond the sixth grade and women’s tertiary education, noting that the IEA had repeatedly stated that the suspension was temporary.
“The Taliban’s (IEA) actions may amount to gender persecution,” Bennett said. “Systematic discrimination, oppression and segregation of women and girls require further examination of the evolving phenomenon of ‘gender apartheid’.”
However, the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly said that international institutions do not reflect the true image of Afghanistan, especially when it comes to human rights, they rely more on propaganda.
“We are a war-torn country, there were no economic resources, and we are trying to revive the economic resources so that they can be created in order to eliminate the poverty and hardship of the people.” In this regard, we don’t sit quietly and work day and night, but unfortunately, these organizations always focus on the negative points instead of the positive points in publishing their reports, and which is devoid of truth,” said Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate.
Ariana Afghan Airlines has ranked seventh among 45 airlines in Central Asia in Skytrax’s 2026 rankings.
Company officials say Ariana Afghan ranked eighth on the list in 2025, but moved up one place this year following improvements in service quality and the expansion of its operations.
According to the officials, in 2026 the airline met criteria including service quality, flight safety, professional cabin crew, and experience in the aviation sector, placing it among the top 10 airlines in Central Asia.
Skytrax is an international organization that evaluates and ranks the quality of services in the aviation industry and airlines, assessing and ranking carriers annually based on specific criteria.
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Silk Road highway in Wakhan corridor now reaches the China border
The road is expected to be officially opened for use in the near future, potentially improving connectivity through the remote Wakhan Corridor.
The construction of the Silk Road Highway in Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor has been fully completed after five years of work, officials in Badakhshan province said.
Amanullah Chehra, head of Rural Rehabilitation and Development in Badakhshan, said the 121.13-kilometre road begins in the Barghil area and stretches to Bzai Gonbad near the Chinese border.
According to officials, the road is between 7 and 10 metres wide and includes three major bridges, each measuring approximately 20 to 22 metres in length. Numerous smaller drainage structures have also been built along the route to facilitate the flow of water.
The road is expected to be officially opened for use in the near future, potentially improving connectivity through the remote Wakhan Corridor.
Afghanistan’s Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, met on Wednesday with Bruno Lemarquis, UNAMA’s Deputy Head for Humanitarian Affairs, to discuss the situation of Afghan returnees and humanitarian assistance.
The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said Lemarquis briefed the minister on assessments conducted by UN agencies during visits to several provinces to identify the needs of returnee families.
Lemarquis said joint cooperation between UN agencies and the Islamic Emirate is needed to support and resettle returnees. He added that UN agencies are currently assisting thousands of families and called for the expansion of humanitarian assistance.
He also said the international community should pay greater attention to the needs of Afghans, adding that UNAMA is ready to cooperate in addressing challenges facing returnees.
Abdul Kabir welcomed UNAMA’s support and thanked the United Nations for its assistance to Afghans. He said various government institutions have been tasked with addressing returnees’ needs.
The minister also called on aid organizations to continue supporting returnee families, saying a program to resettle thousands of internally displaced families is also underway.
Kabir further said the necessary facilities have been provided for UN agencies to operate and that the Islamic Emirate welcomes UNAMA’s humanitarian cooperation.
Ariana Afghan Airlines ranks seventh among 45 Central Asian airlines
Silk Road highway in Wakhan corridor now reaches the China border
Refugees minister, UNAMA deputy discuss challenges facing returnees
OIC Contact Group reaffirms support for Afghan people
UK Afghanistan war crimes inquiry faces delay over 97 million newly identified documents
Saudi energy group signs major Afghanistan deals covering gas exploration and pipeline plans
ATN secures exclusive rights to broadcast T20I series in India across Afghanistan
China evacuates thousands as Typhoon Narra brings torrential rain
Trump floats idea of renaming Atlantic or Pacific Ocean
US hits Egyptian bank branches with Iran sanctions as war marks six months
Tahawol: Reactions to Pakistan’s attacks on Afghanistan discussed
Saar: Uncertain fate of Afghanistan’s seat at UN discussed
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