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Stanekzai: Government should provide education to everyone
Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, deputy foreign minister, has said that women’s education is a collective right while observing the hijab in accordance with Sharia and that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan should provide education to everyone.
Speaking at the scientific and research seminar under the name of “Women’s role in Khair ul-Quran” at the Academy of Sciences, Stanekzai said that women have Sharia rights regarding inheritance, education, work and other aspects to life that have not been given to them yet.
Stanekzai says that before the time of Islam, women did not have rights within other religions, women were buried alive, burned and sold. But Islam gave rights to men and women, and under Sharia law, the right to inheritance and the right to education have been defined.
“Opening a school for girls, teaching, educating girls, all these are legitimate… It is obligatory on the Islamic government to provide education for women, and it is permissible to educate women in hijab,” said Stanekzai.
Fazaluddin Mahmood, the president of the Academy of Sciences, said: “We must have women who can solve women’s scientific problems.”
Stanekzai also said drafting the constitution and entrusting it to its people was the key point for the survival of the system.
He also said that for the survival of the system, affairs must be carried out within the framework of a constitution.
“The system must have a constitution in the light of Sharia law and in order for the people to move forward according to it, and to gain the trust of the people, the government and the system must be among the people, and the ruler must deal with problems and the people can see the ruler whenever they want and share their problems with him,” Stanekzai added.
At the same time, the Acting Minister of Industry and Trade also said that no one can deny the role and importance of women in society, therefore the Islamic Emirate is committed to ensuring women’s rights.
“Almost 50,000 women are engaged in business with the Ministry of Industry and Trade. I have never witnessed the Islamic Emirate say anything or opposing these women. In our society, the best people we respect are our parents and the female, and this is known to the whole world, and if we go under Western propaganda and social media, we will never be able to live,” said Nuruddin Azizi, Acting Minister of Industry and Trade.
Abdul Baqi Haqqani, head of the National Examinations Department, said at this seminar that learning science is obligatory for everyone and that Afghanistan is lagging behind the world in the field of science and more efforts should be made in the field of scientific development in the country.
Although this seminar about women was held in the Academy of Sciences, no women were present.
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Water crisis deepens in Afghanistan as families struggle for access
Traditional sources such as wells and karezes—underground channels that have sustained communities for generations—are now under severe strain.
As the world marks World Water Day, Afghanistan is facing a worsening water crisis, with millions of people struggling to access safe and reliable supplies.
Years of drought, declining rainfall, rapid population growth and the return of families from neighbouring countries have placed increasing pressure on already fragile water systems.
Traditional sources such as wells and karezes—underground channels that have sustained communities for generations—are now under severe strain.
In many rural areas, families are forced to rely on unsafe surface water or travel long distances to meet daily needs. Women and children are most affected, often spending hours each day collecting water.
Urban centres, including Kabul, Mazar-e-Sharif and Kandahar, are also grappling with shortages. Rapid population growth and unregulated groundwater extraction have led to significant depletion, leaving many households dependent on private wells or water deliveries.
The situation in Kandahar is particularly severe. Reports indicate that numerous wells have dried up, while others have dropped to depths of more than 100 metres.
Local community leader Fazil Rahman described water shortages as the most pressing challenge in his area, noting that even deep boreholes are failing to produce sufficient supply. He added that the crisis is disrupting education and livelihoods, as children are often forced to spend hours fetching water instead of attending school.
In response, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in partnership with the Urban Water Supply and Sewage State-Owned Corporation, launched a water infrastructure project in Kandahar in 2025. The initiative aims to improve access for more than 100,000 residents through expanded pipelines, new household connections and solar-powered pumping systems.
The ICRC has also upgraded a major water pumping station in Herat, now supplying water to more than 400,000 people through tens of thousands of household connections.
Beyond urban areas, water scarcity is also affecting agriculture, the backbone of many rural livelihoods. Reduced irrigation has led to lower crop yields and increased risks of food insecurity and malnutrition.
To support affected communities, the ICRC has rehabilitated irrigation canals, karezes and flood protection systems in several provinces, including projects in Parwan Province.
Despite these efforts, humanitarian organisations warn that aid alone will not be enough. Long-term investment in infrastructure, improved water management and stronger policies will be essential to address the crisis.
Without sustained and coordinated action, experts caution that water shortages could continue to threaten public health, food security and stability across Afghanistan.
The International Crisis Group (ICG) has warned that rising tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan risk spiralling into further deadly conflict unless both sides return to dialogue.
In a recent statement, the organisation said last week’s strike on a hospital in Kabul marked a significant escalation, pushing already strained relations closer to direct confrontation. Analysts say ongoing exchanges of airstrikes and artillery fire have heightened fears of a broader regional crisis.
The attack on a major drug rehabilitation hospital in the Afghan capital reportedly killed more than 400 people and injured at least 265, drawing international concern.
Islamabad has accused Kabul of allowing militant groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to operate from its territory—an allegation Afghan authorities deny. Kabul has instead condemned Pakistan’s military actions as violations of its sovereignty.
The ICG warned that current trends point to an escalating cycle of violence that could result in significant military costs with little strategic gain for Pakistan.
At the same time, the group noted that the fighting has further isolated Afghanistan diplomatically.
While several countries expressed condolences following the 16 March strike, there has been limited international condemnation of Pakistan’s actions, alongside increasing calls for Kabul to curb militant activity within its borders.
The organisation stressed the urgent need for international support to help both countries rebuild trust and address shared security threats. Without renewed engagement, it cautioned, further deadly violence appears unavoidable.
Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, said that a mortar shell of the Pakistani military regime hit Shanpat area of Nari district of Kunar province at 9:30 am on Sunday, killing one civilian and wounding another.
The injured person is a woman, he said.
Pakistani forces also opened fire on a civilian vehicle in Shakin district of Paktika province, but no casualties were reported, Fitrat said.
The Pakistani government had earlier announced that it would halt its attacks on Afghanistan until Monday night on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
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