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UK stands firm on its commitment to Afghan women and girls: Hamish Falconer
UK’s Deputy Foreign Secretary, Hamish Falconer, says Britain stands firm in its commitment to the people of Afghanistan, especially Afghan women and girls.
Falconer stated on X that he hosted a meeting on humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan with the participation of officials from the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
“It was a pleasure to host the World Food Programme and the UN Population Fund in Afghanistan and discuss the lifesaving UK-funded assistance they are providing to the Afghan people. We stand firm in our commitment to the people of Afghanistan, especially women and girls,” he said.
Earlier, Falconer said that defending the rights of Afghan women and girls is one of the UK’s main priorities.
However, some experts have pointed out that there is often a gap between the words and actions of countries supporting women.
“I emphasize to different countries the need for the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, but such emphases and speeches are useless unless they are implemented and made practically binding. Until then, they will have no impact on the daily lives of people, especially women in Afghanistan,” said Adila Zamani, a women’s rights activist.
Reports indicate that the UK has contributed 304 million pounds to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund since its establishment.
Meanwhile, some economic experts stated that continued humanitarian assistance from countries could be important in the short term.
Abdul Nasir Rashtiya, an economic expert, said: “The distribution or continuation of such aid helps prevent poverty in the country.”
The protection of women’s human rights remains an unresolved issue between the Islamic Emirate and the international community. As a result, despite more than three years of the IEA’s rule, countries are still unwilling to recognize the caretaker government of Afghanistan.
However, IEA has repeatedly stated that the rights of Afghan women are ensured within the framework of Islamic Sharia law.
The Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan has announced scholarship opportunities for Afghan students under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program for the 2027 academic year.
According to the embassy, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan is offering scholarships for graduate-level study at Japanese universities under the research student category, including both regular and non-regular students.
Interested and eligible applicants can download the application guidelines and forms from the official Study in Japan website and are advised to carefully review all requirements before applying.
Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and have prepared all required documents must submit their applications by 25 May 2026. The embassy said late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.
The first screening process will include a written examination in Kabul on 18 June 2026, followed by interviews scheduled for July 2026 (date to be confirmed).
The Embassy of Japan noted that the Aga Khan Foundation Afghanistan will assist in collecting applications and facilitating written examinations, but will not be involved in the selection process.
It further emphasized that the selection will be conducted independently by the embassy and the Japanese government, based on academic merit, quality of application documents, and performance in written and interview examinations, without consideration of religious, linguistic, or ethnic background.
The scholarship program is fully funded and free of charge. The embassy warned applicants to remain cautious against scams, stressing that no financial contributions are required at any stage of the application process.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, has launched the distribution of more than 1,000 residential land plots for returning migrants in Logar province.
During a visit to Logar, Hanafi inaugurated a new township and said the initiative aims to support Afghan returnees by providing them with housing opportunities and improving settlement conditions.
He called for speeding up the process of distributing residential plots designated for migrants, stressing the importance of timely implementation.
“We inaugurated this township today, which includes more than 1,000 plots. These plots will be distributed to migrants. In addition, other townships will also be constructed soon,” he said.
Hanafi also noted that over the past three years, more than five million Afghan migrants have returned from neighboring countries, adding that efforts are underway to provide them with essential services and support their reintegration.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, has urged the Afghan authorities to take concrete action against militant threats that Islamabad says originate from Afghan soil.
Speaking at an event at the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul marking the first anniversary of Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos against India, Nizamani reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining “brotherly ties” with Afghanistan.
The ambassador also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in reducing tensions between Iran and the United States, saying Islamabad’s initiatives reflected its commitment to regional and global peace.
During the ceremony, Nizamani reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to defend itself against any aggression.
“Pakistan’s desire for peace must never be mistaken for weakness,” the ambassador said, calling for heightened vigilance against regional threats.
Pakistani officials have consistently claimed that militants use Afghan soil to attack Pakistan. The Islamic Emirate, however, has denied this claim and said that Afghanistan is not responsible for Pakistan’s security failures.
Japan announces MEXT scholarships for Afghan students for 2027 academic year
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Pakistan ambassador urges Afghan authorities to act against militant threats
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Afghanistan’s new cricket head coach Richard Pybus arrives in Kabul
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