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Tajik President calls for ‘security belt’ around Afghanistan
Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon has again expressed concern over security threats posed by Afghanistan to the region and has called for a “security belt” to be built around the country.
Addressing delegates attending an International and Regional Border Security and Management Cooperation to Counter Terrorism conference on Tuesday in Dushanbe, Rahmon said “the transfer of terrorist fighters from the war-torn areas of the Middle East to other regions and the strengthening of the positions of international terrorist organizations in Afghanistan poses a serious threat to the Central Asian states.”
He said Tajikistan and Afghanistan share a 1,400 kilometer border that includes “complicated mountainous terrain”.
Rahmon said that over the past two years, Tajikistan has built and put into use more than 175 border facilities.
“It is worth mentioning that at the same time the construction of 30 other facilities is going on, and we need to build another 300 of this kind of facilities in the future.
“In this regard, urgent efforts would be important to implement the initiative of Tajikistan – the concept of [a] ‘Security Belt’ around Afghanistan in order to prevent and reduce the consequences of dangers and threats,” he said.
This comes just days after the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) decided on joint measures by member countries to counter threats posed by international terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the council of RATS that was hosted by India in New Delhi last week.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of all the member nations including China and Pakistan, India’s media reported.
However, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to not allow terrorist groups to use Afghanistan soil to attack other countries.
The IEA has also stated that no terrorist organization is operating out of Afghanistan.
In addition, the IEA has on a number of occasions carried out operations to eliminate militant elements in the country, including Daesh members.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan has appointed 19 ambassadors and consuls general for its overseas missions.
Among these appointments, Shahbaz Hussain and Awais Ahmad Khan have been named as Pakistan’s consuls general in Kandahar and Mazar-e-Sharif, respectively.
Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, said in a post on X that these appointments were made with the approval of Shahbaz Sharif, the country’s Prime Minister.
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the growth and development of human society in various dimensions require the active role of women and girls, and this is only possible if they have access to education.
Karzai made these remarks on Wednesday on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which falls on February 11.
Expressing appreciation for the role of Afghan women and girls in social life, he encouraged them to strive by all possible means to gain access to education and training and to participate in the growth and development of the country.
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Four years on, UN and EU renew call for Afghan girls’ right to education
The European Union delegation in Afghanistan also stressed the importance of women’s participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
As the world observed International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the United Nations and the European Union renewed their calls for Afghan girls’ right to education, warning that continued restrictions threaten the country’s future development.
The United Nations in Afghanistan said the day was marked with sorrow, noting that 1,607 days have passed since girls over the age of 12 were barred from attending school.
UNAMA warned that more than four years of exclusion have led to lost opportunities and undermined key sectors that rely on educated women, reiterating its demand that the ban be lifted.
The European Union delegation in Afghanistan also stressed the importance of women’s participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
In a statement, the EU said Afghan women — including nurses, midwives, and researchers — play a crucial role in building a healthy and prosperous society, adding that women must remain central to scientific progress. The bloc reaffirmed its support for education for all Afghans.
The United Nations further emphasized that equality in science is essential not only for human advancement but also for ensuring that technology and artificial intelligence contribute to global prosperity.
It warned that excluding Afghan women and girls from education and employment is not only an act of marginalization but a serious barrier to Afghanistan’s long-term development and stability.
The statements come amid continued international appeals to expand access to education and job opportunities for Afghan women and girls.
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