HERAT:&nbsp;Afghan authorities boosted security in the western city of Herat following calls for protest on Friday, after tightening restrictions on women sparked a rally that was violently dispersed. An AFP journalist saw a convoy of around 20 military vehicles and heavily armed security forces in the city, as well as extra checkpoints manned by police and the intelligence service. &quot;On every street there is a suspicious private car with (people wearing) casual clothing, sitting in their cars and observing people,&quot; said a 27-year-old resident, whom AFP is not naming for safety reasons. &quot;There were a lot of armed forces roaming around. It was horrible,&quot; he added, after walking around the city. The deployment follows a crackdown launched by the morality police on Saturday, during which dozens of women were arrested for not wearing the body-cloaking chador or burqa. At least two people were killed and more than 20 wounded in a protest held by residents days later, a group of UN experts said. Police have denied that any weapons were used during the demonstration. Taliban authorities rule according to a strict interpretation of Islamic law, and have gradually tightened restrictions on women since returning to power in August 2021. Across Afghanistan, women must be almost entirely covered when they leave home, with many wearing a flowing abaya robe, a Muslim headscarf and a face covering. &nbsp;&#39;Restraint by all&#39;&nbsp;Those detained in Herat included a hospital worker employed by Doctors Without Borders (MSF), who the organisation said was held for two days. Before her release, the medic, her husband and relatives had to sign a written commitment to wear clothing mandated by the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (PVPV) authorities. MSF said it was &quot;outraged&quot; by its employee&#39;s detention. Calls for residents to demonstrate against the crackdown after Friday prayers have been circulating on social media this week. In a post on X, Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, urged &quot;caution &amp; restraint by all&quot; if the protest goes ahead. Dozens of men rallied in Herat on Tuesday and were dispersed by live fire, two witnesses told AFP. Police denied using weapons and accused those demonstrators of seeking &quot;to disturb public order&quot;. Herat&#39;s Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice wing published a list of rules for women on Wednesday, which included a ban on wearing make-up or having any hair visible, and an order to wear socks and face masks. Failure to comply may result in &quot;detention and imprisonment&quot;, the notice said. Across the country, women are banned from a host of public places, including parks and gyms, while girls&#39; education stops at age 12.

An Afghan burqa-clad woman walks past a Taliban security personnel standing guard outside a mosque in Shahrak-e-Almahdi, Jebrail district of Herat Province on June 11, 2026 (AFP)

Afghanistan

Afghan authorities intensified security in Herat after a crackdown on women’s dress-code violations sparked deadly protests and renewed calls for demonstrations.

Afghan govt boosts security in Herat after protest calls

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the Taliban&rsquo;s arrest of women in Afghanistan&rsquo;s western Herat province, warning that the detentions and the subsequent use of force against protesters raise serious human rights concerns amid an expanding crackdown on women across the country. The warning comes as reports emerge of a pregnant woman who was allegedly detained by Taliban morality police in Kabul and remains missing days later, with her family saying authorities have provided no information about her whereabouts. According to a UN statement issued Wednesday, at least 30 women were detained in Herat by officials from the Taliban&rsquo;s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. The arrests followed a large-scale operation targeting women accused of violating the Taliban&rsquo;s dress requirements. The detentions sparked protests in Herat city, where residents gathered to denounce the arrests before Taliban security forces moved to disperse the crowd. In its statement, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it was concerned that &ldquo;dozens more women reportedly received verbal warnings&rdquo; during the operation. &ldquo;While the women were released on June 8, the impact of such arbitrary arrests and detentions on women and their families is profound,&rdquo; UNAMA said. The UN mission also raised alarm over what it described as the &ldquo;excessive use of force by Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto security forces&rdquo; against demonstrators in Herat&rsquo;s Jibreil area on June 9. According to UNAMA, &ldquo;at least one person, a boy, was killed by gunfire, while several others suffered injuries, including from being beaten with sticks,&rdquo; adding that it was verifying reports of a second fatality. The developments underscore growing international concern over the Taliban&rsquo;s enforcement of morality regulations, which rights groups say have increasingly curtailed women&rsquo;s freedoms since the group returned to power in 2021. Pregnant woman detainedSeparately, sources told Afghanistan International that a Hazara woman was detained by Taliban morality police in Kabul three days ago after leaving her home to carry out routine shopping.&nbsp; The woman, who is reportedly pregnant, was allegedly taken away in a government vehicle to an undisclosed location. Her family says repeated attempts to obtain information from local police and the Taliban&rsquo;s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice have yielded no answers. &ldquo;We have approached all the relevant offices, but no one accepts responsibility for the arrest or tells us where she has been taken,&rdquo; one source told the outlet on condition of anonymity. &ldquo;We are deeply concerned about her well-being and that of her child,&rdquo; the source added. Taliban authorities have not publicly explained the reason for the detention, though morality police have frequently detained women accused of failing to comply with the Taliban&rsquo;s interpretation of hijab requirements. UNAMA reiterated its call on Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto authorities to &ldquo;rescind all policies and practices that restrict the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan,&rdquo; including limitations on freedom of movement, expression, education, employment and participation in public life. Since regaining power nearly five years ago, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls, barring them from higher education, limiting employment opportunities and restricting access to public spaces.&nbsp; International organizations have repeatedly warned that the cumulative effect of these measures has resulted in the systematic exclusion of women from public life and one of the world&rsquo;s most severe women&rsquo;s rights crises.

Afghan women wearing chador walk along the street near the Grand Mosque in Herat on June 8, 2026. (AFP)

The United Nations agency condemned the detention of at least 30 women in Herat and the use of force against protesters, while reports of a pregnant woman missing after arrest in Kabul have intensified concerns over Taliban treatment of women.

UN alarmed as Afghan Taliban detain women, pregnant mother disappears

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan&#39;s permanent representative to the United Nations, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, on Sunday, condemned the arrest of women in the western Herat province of the country for the alleged non-compliance with the Taliban-imposed dress requirements. In a statement posted on X, he termed the arrest of ladies in Herat as part of a systematic policy to eliminate women from the Afghan society, deprive them of fundamental freedoms, and humiliate their human dignity. The statement added that Faiq termed the arrest of women because of their appearance or choice of clothing as not about protecting religion or values.&nbsp; &quot;Instead, it is a tool of repression, intimidation, and the spread of fear throughout society,&quot; the statement added. Afghan media reported that the Taliban authorities arrested at least 40 women in the western Herat province for not wearing what the religious group terms as &quot;proper dress.&quot; Faiq, who was appointed to the UN by the former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani&#39;s government, further said that the detention of women by the Taliban&rsquo;s morality police under the pretext of &ldquo;improper Hijab&rdquo; is neither consistent with Islamic principles and values nor with the culture and traditions of the Afghan people. The envoy, who is retained in the UN for non-recognition of the Taliban government on the international level, also cited what he described as numerous documented reports of violent treatment of women in detention, including harassment, sexual assault, and forced marriages.&nbsp; The statement further quoted Faiq saying that allegations have not been investigated transparently and that those responsible have not been held accountable. Questioning the Taliban&#39;s justification for the arrests, Faiq said, &quot;How do the Taliban&#39;s enforcers consider themselves guardians when they forcibly detain and transfer women in the streets and markets?&quot;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2063644637709869246&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4092%2F&sessionId=048074557d55da39496af0656a0a8e2ee2d37656&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 446px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Faiq characterized the measures as &quot;inhumane&quot;, &quot;unlawful,&quot; and &quot;un-Islamic&quot; and condemned them.&nbsp;

Afghan women wearing burqas - (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Afghanistan’s UN envoy, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, condemned the Taliban’s detention of women over alleged hijab/niqab violations, calling it a systematic campaign of repression, intimidation, and abuse against women.

Herat arrests of women aim to erase women from public life: Afghanistan envoy to UN

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;As Afghanistan marked World Environment Day on Friday, growing climate and environmental challenges continued to weigh heavily on communities across the country, causing serious risks to livelihoods, food security, and long-term social stability, according to a report by United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).&nbsp; Years of drought, worsening water scarcity and extreme weather events have left millions vulnerable, particularly in rural areas where agriculture remains the primary source of income.&nbsp; More than half of Afghanistan&rsquo;s population is affected by prolonged dry periods, according to local assessments, with farmers reporting repeated crop failures and shrinking access to water. In the eastern province of Nangarhar, residents say increasingly unpredictable weather patterns are disrupting traditional farming practices and deepening economic hardship. &ldquo;Our river has become unpredictable. Last year, it dried when we needed it most; this year it flooded and destroyed half of our crops,&rdquo; said a farmer in Goshta district, describing the uncertainty facing rural communities. The situation is especially severe in Afghanistan&rsquo;s southern provinces, including Kandahar, Helmand, Nimroz, Zabul and Uruzgan, where recurrent drought, declining rainfall and unregulated groundwater extraction have pushed water systems toward collapse. Rivers are drying up, traditional irrigation systems have deteriorated, and many communities are drilling deeper wells in search of water, often with limited success.&nbsp; The consequences have been far-reaching, reducing agricultural production, limiting access to safe drinking water and forcing some families to leave their homes in search of reliable water sources. Increasingly scarce resources Competition over increasingly scarce resources has become a tension in some areas. Experts warn that without urgent intervention, parts of the region could become difficult to inhabit. Proposed solutions include expanding water-efficient irrigation systems, improving water management practices and investing in groundwater recharge projects. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, communities are confronting a different set of climate-related challenges. In western provinces such as Ghor and Farah, prolonged drought has coincided with destructive flash floods caused by intense rainfall.&nbsp; Residents have struggled to cope with water shortages while rebuilding homes, farmland and infrastructure damaged by flooding. Floods are also becoming more frequent and unpredictable in central and eastern provinces, including Logar, Parwan and Kapisa.&nbsp; In the south, strong winds and dust storms have damaged crops and contributed to respiratory illnesses, adding to humanitarian needs. Environmental degradation Environmental degradation is further intensifying the crisis. Deforestation in Kunar, Nuristan and Logar has lessened natural protection against floods and landslides, while overgrazing in mountainous regions such as Badakhshan has accelerated ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss. Unregulated mining activities have also damaged landscapes and polluted water sources. Urban areas face their own environmental challenges. In Kabul, air pollution remains a serious public health concern, particularly during winter months when many households rely on low-quality fuels for heating. Poor waste management continues to exacerbate the problem. In provinces known for their natural beauty, including Panjshir, Kapisa and Maidan Wardak, growing tourism has increased pressure on local ecosystems, with waste accumulating in rivers and valleys. World Environment Day, observed annually on June 5, seeks to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourage action to protect ecosystems and promote sustainable development worldwide.

Afghanistan climate crisis deepens as communities scale up environmental action- (Photo: UNAMA)

Afghanistan is facing escalating climate and environmental crises prompting urgent calls for sustainable adaptation and resilience measures.

Afghanistan faces escalating climate crisis as communities mark World Environment Day: UNAMA

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed concern over the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in Afghanistan, warning that their diversion to terrorist groups poses a significant threat to regional peace and security. In a statement shared on X,&nbsp;Pakistan&#39;s Counselor Syed Atif Raza, while speaking at the Ninth Biennial Meeting of States (BMS-9) on the United Nations Program of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, said the unchecked transfer and accumulation of such weapons continue to intensify conflicts, undermine socio-economic development, and endanger civilian populations. He noted that small arms and light weapons have become the preferred tools of non-state actors and terrorist organizations, whose access to increasingly sophisticated weaponry has heightened security challenges across borders. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 744px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2061505190973325521&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=ec709ea7af2ead2de2ca6a20a2cfa191646a41d8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The Pakistani delegate, the statement continued, highlighted concerns over stockpiles of advanced arms and ammunition in Afghanistan, citing findings reflected in reports of the UN secretary-general.&nbsp; He emphasized that these weapons present a direct threat to neighboring countries, including Pakistan. The statement further said that calling for stronger international cooperation, the Pakistani counselor urged efforts to prevent illicit arms from reaching armed terrorist groups, and stressed the need for the Taliban to fulfill their international obligations and commitments. Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to the UN Program of Action, Syed Atif Raza said that a comprehensive and balanced approach is essential to address both the supply and demand sides of illicit arms trafficking, and to promote international and regional peace and security.

Security

Counselor tells forum that illicit small arms stockpiles in Afghanistan threaten regional security; urges stronger international action to prevent weapons from reaching terrorist groups and criminal networks.

Pakistan raises alarm over illicit weapons in Afghanistan at UN small arms moot

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Muhammad Sadiq, said Tuesday he held talks with a senior Chinese diplomat in Islamabad on regional security challenges, including concerns over terrorist groups operating from neighboring Afghanistan. Sadiq, in a post on X, said&nbsp;he welcomed Chinese Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong and his delegation for discussions focused on strengthening coordination and synchronized counterterrorism efforts. He said the two sides exchanged views on &quot;threats posed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) operating from Afghan soil&quot;.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2061509383318851946&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4092%2F&sessionId=4a0186208528240165a547fa581bdc21a9f15b22&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Both sides agreed to &quot;strengthen coordination &amp; synchronize counter-terrorism efforts to protect regional peace &amp; stability,&quot; Sadiq said.&nbsp;

Foreign Affairs

Both sides discussed regional security challenges, particularly threats posed by the TTP and ETIM from Afghan soil, and agreed to strengthen coordination and synchronize counterterrorism efforts to promote lasting peace and stability across the region.

Pakistan, China discuss Afghan-based terror threats, strengthen counterterrorism cooperation

ISLAMABAD: The Afghanistan Journalists Center on Thursday condemned the Taliban&rsquo;s suspension of Radio Bamyan, calling for the station&rsquo;s immediate and unconditional reopening amid growing concerns over media restrictions in Afghanistan, according to Hasht e Subh Daily.&nbsp; Radio Bamyan&rsquo;s broadcasts were halted on May 17 by order of the Taliban&rsquo;s General Directorate of Intelligence, the daily reported, quoting the center.&nbsp;Taliban authorities reportedly said the station lacked a valid operating license, despite repeated efforts by the broadcaster to renew its permit. Radio Bamyan, established in 2003, aired social, health and religious programming for residents of Bamyan province.&nbsp; Its closure leaves only one private radio station operating in the province. The Afghanistan Journalists Center expressed alarm over what it described as an escalating crackdown on independent media since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.&nbsp; The group said press freedom has sharply deteriorated, with many media organizations forced to cease operations because of mounting pressure and restrictions imposed by Taliban authorities. In its latest report, the center said that in 2025 alone at least 21 local television stations were either shut down or converted into radio stations following the Taliban&rsquo;s ban on broadcasting images of living beings.&nbsp; The report also said at least 10 media organizations have had their operating licenses revoked this year. The Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on journalists and media outlets since regaining control of the country, drawing criticism from international human rights organizations and press freedom advocates.

Journalists at an event in Kabul to mark Afghan National Journalists Day in March 2019, in support of media freedom and solidarity with journalists in the country

The Afghanistan Journalists Center has condemned the Taliban’s closure of Radio Bamyan, warning that media freedom in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate under increasing restrictions.

Afghan Taliban’s closure of Radio Bamyan draws condemnation from Afghanistan Journalists Center

ISLAMABAD: The interim Afghan government&#39;s new decree on marriage separation &quot;reinforces systemic discrimination&quot; and erodes the rights of Afghan women and girls, the United Nations said on Thursday. Published in mid-May, the 31-article code sets out various grounds for separation in Afghanistan, including a husband&#39;s prolonged disappearance, &quot;incompatibility&quot; between couples, renunciation of Islam and &quot;failure on the part of the husband&quot;. The decree, which appeared in the country&#39;s Official Gazette, also states that marriage contracts drawn by relatives &quot;on behalf of a minor boy or girl&quot; can be annulled, which suggests child marriage is permitted in Afghanistan, according to the UN. In most cases, the procedures for women seeking a separation are more complicated than those for men. The document, approved by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, &quot;is part of a broader and deeply concerning trajectory in which the rights of Afghan women and girls are being eroded&quot;, said Georgette Gagnon, deputy special representative of the UN secretary-general. It &quot;further entrenches systemic discrimination in law and practice&quot;, the UN statement said, adding that women and girls are denied &quot;autonomy, opportunities and access to justice&quot;. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban government in Afghanistan has banned girls from continuing their education beyond primary school, walking in parks and going to gyms, swimming pools or beauty salons. They are required to cover themselves from head to toe and are barred from many jobs. Any breach of the rules can result in arrest and imprisonment. The UN&#39;s Afghanistan mission (UNAMA) said that following a decree issued in 2021 in which the Taliban authorities had &quot;recognized certain rights for women, including women&#39;s consent to marriage&quot;, subsequent legislation has ultimately eroded those protections.

The United Nations says the Taliban’s new marriage separation decree further restricts Afghan women’s rights, reinforces systemic discrimination, and raises concerns over child marriage and access to justice in Afghanistan.

UN says Taliban marriage decree deepens discrimination against Afghan women

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan&#39;s representative to the UN, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, has said that the Taliban regime in Kabul cannot claim the country&rsquo;s permanent representation in the United Nations. In a post on the social media platform X on Wednesday, Faiq said that representation in the world body is the legitimate right of a government, which has attained power and sovereignty through legitimate means and is based on the people&#39;s will. &ldquo;On what basis of positive action and what criterion of legitimacy do the Taliban demand the handing over of Afghanistan&#39;s seat in the United Nations?&rdquo; asked the Afghanistan representative in the UN, while responding to the Taliban Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi. Muttaqi had called on the UN to hand over Afghanistan&rsquo;s representation in the UN to the Taliban administration in Kabul.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 1044px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2056940117466448305&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=e25130daab5261921bc286898b8a48ef2acefdba&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Naseer Faiq, an appointee of the former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani&#39;s government, still serves as the country&rsquo;s legitimate representative in the organization. However, the Taliban regime has its own designated representative who also uses the platform. The United Nations doesn&#39;t recognize the Taliban regime as the legitimate ruler of Afghanistan. Thus, the country&rsquo;s seat in the organization is still occupied by the appointee of the former regime. Faiq said that after five years of the Taliban regime, it has neither responded positively to the legitimate demands of the Afghan people nor to the explicit demands of the international community. He added that the doors of schools and universities remain closed to girls, women are deprived of the right to work and social participation, there is no legitimate and inclusive national system in place, corruption and repression have spread widely, and security in Afghanistan and the region has deteriorated further due to the harboring and support of international terrorist groups. Afghanistan&rsquo;s representative in the UN went on to say that poverty, forced marriages, suicides among youth due to unemployment, targeted killings of former military forces, suppression of freedom of expression, expansion of jihadist madrassas, and the promotion of terrorism and extremism have increased to an unprecedented degree. He said that only a legitimate government, which has guaranteed the rights of all citizens within the framework of the law without discrimination on grounds of gender, ethnicity, or religion, and has remained committed to its national and international obligations, can claim a permanent seat in the UN.

Afghanistan’s UN envoy Naseer Ahmad Faiq rejected Taliban demands for Afghanistan’s UN seat, saying legitimacy requires public mandate, inclusive governance, women’s rights, and compliance with international obligations and commitments standards.

Afghan envoy says Taliban regime not eligible to claim UN seat

ISLAMABAD: Students across Afghanistan are growing discouraged as the Taliban expand religious schools while public education facilities continue to deteriorate, according to the daily Hasht-e-Subh. Images circulating on social media in recent days showed students sleeping inside classrooms, highlighting worsening conditions in public schools and sparking renewed criticism of the Taliban&rsquo;s education policies. Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, modern education has been systematically weakened while the group has prioritized religious instruction through madrasa networks. According to the daily, subjects such as mathematics, physics and chemistry have received less attention in some schools, while greater emphasis has been placed on ideological, political and military-related topics aligned with Taliban teachings. The concerns come as Afghanistan&rsquo;s education sector continues to face severe economic strain. Many families struggling with poverty are unable to keep children in school, while restrictions imposed by the Taliban have further discouraged students from pursuing education.&nbsp; International observers and education advocates have repeatedly warned about the growing imbalance between religious and public education in Afghanistan. An international survey found that the Taliban had built 15 religious schools for every one public school, despite the country&rsquo;s deepening education crisis. Afghanistan&rsquo;s public schools also continue to suffer from shortages of qualified teachers, learning materials and proper classroom facilities, particularly in rural areas.

Afghan schoolboys in Helmand (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Afghanistan’s public education system is deteriorating under Taliban rule as religious schools expand, classrooms decline, and students lose access to quality modern education.

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