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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

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

Afghan Taliban’s focus on religious schools is discouraging students from education

ISLAMABAD: The Taliban have introduced a new family law regulation that recognizes child marriage as legally valid under certain circumstances, drawing renewed condemnation from rights advocates who say the measure further erodes the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, according to an Afghanistan&#39;s Amu TV report published on Sunday.&nbsp; The relevant 31-article decree, titled, &ldquo;Principles of Separation Between Spouses&quot;, was approved by Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, according NDTV World.&nbsp;The decree allows relatives other than a child&rsquo;s father or grandfather to arrange the marriage of a minor boy or girl. Under Article 5 of the decree, such marriages are considered legally valid if the prospective spouse is deemed socially compatible and the dowry is considered appropriate. The Taliban have recognized underage marriages in&nbsp;under the article. Although the law permits a child to seek annulment after reaching puberty, it requires a court order, placing the burden on minors to challenge marriages arranged without their informed consent. The provision effectively legitimizes child marriage and strips children, particularly girls, of the ability to make decisions about their own lives. Coercion and fear&nbsp;Article 7 of the decree states that the &quot;silence of a virgin girl&quot; after reaching puberty may be interpreted as consent to marriage, according to the Afghan media report.&nbsp; Human rights advocates argue that equating silence with consent ignores the realities of coercion, social pressure and fear, especially in a society where girls and women have little freedom to express opposition. The Article 9 of the decree, in case of a girl seeking annulment of marriage, places the burden of proof on the girl and gives credence to the husband&#39;s oath in cases of dispute.&nbsp; This, rights advocates argue makes the process of accessing justice difficult for the girl, Hasht-e-Subh Daily reported.&nbsp; Restrictions on women&nbsp;The new regulation comes as the Taliban continue to impose sweeping restrictions on women and girls since reclaiming power in August 2021. Girls have been barred from attending school beyond sixth grade, women have been excluded from universities, and severe limits have been placed on their employment, movement and participation in public life. The United Nations has repeatedly condemned the Taliban&rsquo;s policies, describing them as systematic violations of fundamental rights and warning that Afghanistan is becoming one of the most repressive countries in the world for women and girls. Rights groups say the latest family law codifies discrimination and institutionalizes practices that endanger children&rsquo;s physical and mental well-being. Activists say the regulation reflects the Taliban&rsquo;s broader effort to entrench a legal system that treats women and girls as subjects of male control rather than equal members of society.

Child marriage in Afghanistan - (Photo: Wikimedia commons)

The Taliban’s new family law has sparked condemnation for effectively legitimizing child marriage and expanding restrictions on women’s and girls’ rights by allowing arranged minor marriages and treating silence as consent. 

Afghan Taliban's legalization of child marriage, another assault on women's rights

ISLAMABAD: The Afghan Taliban has enacted a new law that allows authorities to classify occupied land as state-owned property and resell them to residents, raising concerns over possible confiscation of private land and the cancellation of long-standing ownership rights, according to an Afghan media report. The Taliban&rsquo;s Ministry of Justice announced Tuesday that the &ldquo;Law on the Sale and Distribution of State Land Plots and Issuing Construction Permits&rdquo; had been published in the official gazette, according to Afghanistan International. The measure, based on decrees issued by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, contains 38 articles across six chapters. Taliban officials said the law was intended to regulate the distribution, sale and ownership of government land for residential and commercial purposes. But several provisions indicate authorities could invalidate previous ownership claims and require residents to repurchase land already occupied by homes and businesses. Under Articles 7 and 8, the Taliban may designate land as &ldquo;state land&rdquo; even if residential settlements or housing developments already exist there. Article 11 imposes strict conditions on landholders. Individuals granted land must take possession within six months, while buyers of commercial properties must complete payment within three months or risk losing ownership rights. The article also states that if construction does not begin within three years, authorities may reclaim the property and cancel allocation contracts. The law further limits individuals to ownership of four residential plots in reclaimed housing developments, allowing the Taliban to confiscate any additional plots exceeding that number. Critics say the provisions could pave the way for widespread cancellation of private ownership rights and confiscation of land where families have lived for years. Articles 4 and 5 state that land prices will be determined solely according to Taliban regulations, leaving residents with no role in setting or negotiating prices. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban has established a commission tasked with preventing land grabbing and recovering what it describes as illegally seized state property. However, reports from several provinces indicate authorities have confiscated and registered thousands of acres of privately held land under the designation of &ldquo;state-owned&rdquo; property. The law is likely to deepen concerns among Afghans over property rights and legal protections under Taliban rule, particularly in urban and residential areas where ownership documentation is disputed or incomplete.

Kabul skyline - (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

The Taliban has introduced a new law allowing authorities to seize land deemed 'state-owned,' including existing residential areas, and resell it to residents under strict ownership conditions.

Afghan Taliban to sell confiscated housing estates back to residents

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations has warned that hunger and food insecurity are worsening across Afghanistan, with women and children bearing the brunt of the country&rsquo;s deepening humanitarian crisis. The UN World Food Program (WFP) said in its report that Afghanistan continues to face overlapping challenges, including economic collapse, high unemployment and climate-related shocks that have destroyed livelihoods and left millions struggling to afford basic necessities. Rising regional tensions have also contributed to higher food prices, adding pressure on already vulnerable households. &ldquo;The little food we can afford we give to our children, but that is not enough,&rdquo; said Raqiba Ahmadi, a resident of Faizabad in northeastern Badakhshan province. She said her youngest daughter is recovering from malnutrition while her husband remains unemployed. Vulnerable sections of the population are in severe danger of malnutrition in the country due to a shortage of resources and a sudden surge in prices of staple foods. The WFP said persistent funding shortages have significantly reduced supplies of specialized nutritional food used to treat malnourished women and children. The agency warned that without additional financial support, millions of Afghans will remain at risk of severe hunger and acute malnutrition. The organization said it needed urgent funding to support millions amid a surging hunger crisis in Afghanistan.

Malnutrition in Afghanistan - (File Photo: UNICEF)

The UN warns that worsening hunger in Afghanistan is pushing millions, especially women and children, toward severe food insecurity and acute malnutrition.

Afghanistan hunger crisis worsens; women, children hardest hit, says UN

ISLAMABAD: United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, called Thursday for continued international efforts to recognize what he described as &ldquo;gender apartheid&rdquo; under Taliban rule, warning that sweeping restrictions on women and girls require sustained global attention. He made the remarks during a parliamentary conference on Afghanistan at the French National Assembly in Paris, according to Afghanistan International.&nbsp; Speaking to lawmakers, rights advocates and former Afghan officials, Bennett said the human rights situation in Afghanistan remains deeply troubling, particularly for women and girls facing severe limitations on education, employment and public life. &ldquo;Alongside realism about the situation, we must maintain hope for the people of Afghanistan,&rdquo; Bennett said, emphasizing the need for continued international engagement and support for Afghan citizens. Bennett also highlighted the role of the Afghan diaspora, saying communities abroad could help sustain hope and contribute to the country&rsquo;s future direction. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed a series of restrictions on women and girls, including bans on secondary and higher education for girls, limits on employment and constraints on movement without a male guardian. Rights groups and UN officials have repeatedly condemned the policies as violations of fundamental human rights. The conference in Paris focused on Afghanistan&rsquo;s humanitarian and political situation, with participants discussing international responses to the country&rsquo;s ongoing crisis.

Burkha clad woman begs by the side of the road in Afghanistan (File Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett urges international community to recognize 'gender apartheid' in Afghanistan and maintain support for Afghan women facing severe Taliban restrictions.

UN rapporteur urges recognition of gender apartheid in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Ambassador Tahir Andrabi, has stated that no temporary ceasefire is currently in place with Afghan Taliban. Ambassador Andrabi, on Saturday, clarified that there had only been a time-bound pause lasting three days during Eid. He said, &quot;There is no temporary ceasefire in place. There was only a time barred three days pause at Eid. Which was over at that time.&quot; Meanwhile, earlier, on Saturday, Pakistan rejected what it called &ldquo;one-sided&rdquo; remarks by a British official regarding developments along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, urging a more balanced and informed understanding of the situation. In a statement, Foreign Office spokesperson said comments by the British Special Representative for Afghanistan did not reflect ground realities and lacked a deeper appreciation of the challenges faced along the border. The spokesperson said cross-border aggression and terrorist infiltration attempts from the Afghan side have continued despite Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;goodwill gesture&rdquo; of a temporary pause announced in March 2026. He added that since then, attacks by the Afghan Taliban and activities by their &ldquo;supported proxies&rdquo; inside Pakistan have resulted in the deaths of 52 civilians and injuries to 84 others.

Foreign Affairs

Says, 'There is no temporary ceasefire in place. There was only a time barred three days pause at Eid. Which was over at that time.'

Pakistan says 'no temporary ceasefire in place' with Afghan Taliban

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday condemned what it described as &#39;unprovoked&#39; cross-border firing by Afghan forces in South Waziristan, saying civilians, including children, were injured in the latest escalation along the frontier, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Office of the Spokesperson) said. In a weekly press briefing, the spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, said Afghan forces carried out firing and shelling on April 26 and 29 in border areas of South Waziristan adjacent to Bannu district, including Angoor Adda, damaging homes and wounding several people, among them children aged 3, 8, and 10. The ministry said residents and tribal elders had voiced concern over repeated incidents and demanded an immediate halt to cross-border attacks. It added that Islamabad had expressed &#39;strong condemnation&#39; and was taking measures to assist affected families and ensure civilian safety. Diplomatic engagement on ceasefire effortsThe Foreign Office said Pakistan had maintained &ldquo;sustained engagement&rdquo; with both Washington and Tehran over the past two weeks, supporting ceasefire efforts and dialogue aimed at de-escalation. &quot;Pakistan remains committed to regional stability and international peace, reflecting our preference for principled, dialogue-oriented diplomacy in addressing complex geopolitical challenges and managing complex disputes,&quot; said the spokesperson.&nbsp; &quot;Pakistan has maintained open channels of communication with the concerned parties&quot;, he added, highlighting a series of high-level engagements led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, including multiple calls with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and consultations with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and T&uuml;rkiye. According to the briefing, Sharif&rsquo;s recent visits to Riyadh, Doha, and Antalya focused on advancing regional peace efforts following a ceasefire between the US and Iran and talks hosted in Islamabad. The ministry said Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Asim Munir, remained engaged with key stakeholders to promote stability. Separately, the Foreign Office said a European Union business delegation was visiting Pakistan and had held meetings with government officials and private sector representatives, with more than 600 business-to-business interactions expected on the sidelines of the EU-Pakistan Business Forum. In the Middle East, Pakistan also joined international statements condemning Israeli actions, including the appointment of a representative to Somaliland and violations at Jerusalem&rsquo;s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. The briefing concluded with an update on President Asif Ali Zardari&rsquo;s ongoing visit to China, describing it as part of continued high-level exchanges marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Weekly press briefing (Screen grab: X/@ForeignOfficePk)

Islamabad flays Afghan cross-border firing in South Waziristan that injured civilians, including children, and damaged homes, while highlighting its ongoing diplomatic engagement with the United States and Iran to support de-escalation and regional stability.

Pakistan condemns Afghan border firing, highlights Iran-US de-escalation diplomacy

ISLAMABAD: A deadly attack in western Afghanistan has drawn strong international condemnation, after gunmen opened fire on families gathered near a religious site in Herat province. The attack took place on Friday in Deh Mehri village, located in the Injil district of Herat Province, where families had assembled for a picnic near a Shia shrine, according to local media.&nbsp; At least 11 people were killed and 11 others injured, including women and children. Witnesses described scenes of panic and chaos as the unidentified attackers began shooting into the crowd. Emergency responders transported the wounded to nearby medical facilities, where several remain in critical condition, local media reported. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) expressed condolences to the victims and their families, describing the incident as a &ldquo;terrible crime.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;We express our condolences to the victims and to the families affected, and wish those injured a speedy recovery,&rdquo; said the UN&rsquo;s Officer-in-charge of Afghanistan Georgette Gagnon, who also called on authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure the protection of all communities across Afghanistan.&nbsp; The UN&rsquo;s Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan Richard Bennett, meanwhile. strongly condemned the attack, describing it as &ldquo;brutal&rdquo; and urged that those responsible be brought to justice.&nbsp; He noted that the victims were members of the Shia community and stressed that such targeted violence must not go unpunished. The European Union also denounced the killings, stating that violence against civilians is unacceptable under any circumstances. The bloc extended its condolences to the victims&rsquo; families and expressed solidarity with those affected.&nbsp;

Afghan men walk past shops closed in solidarity with victims killed in an attack by unidentified armed men on the outskirts of the Sayed Mohammad Agha Shia shrine, a day after the incident in Herat on April 11, 2026.

Gunmen attacked families at a Shia shrine gathering in Herat, Afghanistan, killing at least 11 people and drawing strong international condemnation.

Deadly attack on civilians in Afghanistan draws international condemnation 

SYDNEY:&nbsp;One of Australia&#39;s most-decorated soldiers was charged Tuesday with murdering unarmed prisoners captured in Afghanistan, police said following a sweeping war crimes probe. A landmark military report in 2020 revealed grave allegations against Australian troops sent to fight Taliban forces, accusing elite units of torture, summary executions and &quot;body count&quot; competitions. Police levelled murder charges against former Special Air Service officer Ben Roberts-Smith, a distinguished soldier awarded Australia&#39;s highest military honor for his efforts fighting insurgents. Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the 47-year-old was allegedly complicit in a string of unlawful killings between 2009 and 2012. &quot;It will be alleged the victims were not taking part in hostilities at the time of their alleged murder in Afghanistan,&quot; she said. &quot;It will be alleged the victims were detained, unarmed, and were under the control of ADF members when they were killed,&quot; she added, referring to the Australian Defense Force. Court documents showed Roberts-Smith was charged with five counts of &quot;war crime - murder&quot;. They included one &quot;actual offence&quot;, one &quot;joint commission to an offence&quot;, and three counts of aiding or abetting a murder. Should Roberts-Smith be found guilty, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. The towering soldier became a household name across Australia when he was awarded the Victoria Cross in 2011, a medal reserved for only the most courageous wartime exploits. &#39;Unlawful killings&#39;&nbsp; He met Queen Elizabeth II, had his portrait hung at the Australian War Museum, and was even honored as the nation&#39;s &quot;father of the year&quot;. But the war hero&#39;s reputation was called into question in 2018, when a series of news reports linked him to the alleged murder of unarmed Afghan prisoners by Australian troops. The soldier had allegedly kicked an unarmed Afghan civilian off a cliff and ordered subordinates to shoot him, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald reported. He was also said to have taken part in the machine-gunning of a man with a prosthetic limb which he later used as a drinking vessel with other soldiers. Roberts-Smith has staunchly maintained his innocence throughout, launching legal action against the newspapers who aired the allegations. But his efforts to sue The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald for slander would backfire, with a judge finding in 2023 many of the journalists&#39; claims were &quot;substantially true&quot;. Such civil trials carry a lower burden of proof than the criminal proceedings Roberts-Smith now faces. Australia deployed 39,000 troops to Afghanistan over two decades as part of US- and NATO-led operations against the Taliban and other militant groups. As Australian veterans returned home, their actions have come into sharp legal focus. Under growing pressure, the government appointed a special investigator to probe whether current and former soldiers should face criminal charges. The 2020 military report found special forces personnel &quot;unlawfully killed&quot; 39 Afghan civilians and prisoners. But investigations into the alleged crimes have been complicated by the Taliban authorities&#39; return to power and the lack of willing witnesses, and Roberts-Smith is only the second soldier to be charged.

This handout image taken and released on April 7, 2026 by the Australian Federal Police shows police arresting a 47-year-old former Australian soldier, who was widely named in local media as Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith, in Sydney.

Australasia

A landmark military report in 2020 revealed grave allegations against Australian troops sent to fight Taliban forces, accusing elite units of torture, summary executions and 'body count' competitions.

Australian soldier charged for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed eight terrorists during an operation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in North Waziristan district, the military&rsquo;s media wing said on Wednesday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a group of &quot;khawarij&quot; was effectively engaged, as a result of which eight terrorists connected to &ldquo;Indian proxy, Fitna al Khawarij&rdquo; were killed.&nbsp; Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the militants. The military said the engagement once again &ldquo;substantiated&rdquo; its repeated stance regarding the failure of the Afghan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/operation-ghazab-lilhaq-435-killed-as-pakistan-strikes-afghan-targets" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Taliban</a>&nbsp;regime to ensure effective border management on its side of the border. &ldquo;Afghan Taliban Regime must fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by khawarij and involvement of its citizens in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-security-forces-kill-15-terrorists-in-balochistan-operation-military" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">terrorism</a>&nbsp;inside Pakistan,&rdquo; ISPR added. &quot;Khawarij&quot; is&nbsp;Islamabad&#39;s term for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan terrorist&nbsp;group, which it accuses of operating from Afghan soil, backed by India. PM, President laud security forces&nbsp;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the security forces for a successful operation against terrorists.&nbsp; The president and PM praised the professionalism of the security forces for their effective and timely actions, according to press releases issued by the Aiwan-e-Sadr press wing&nbsp;and the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office on Thursday.&nbsp; &ldquo;The role of the security forces in defending the country and safeguarding its borders was commendable,&rdquo; the president said. The leaders urged the Afghan interim government to prevent its territory from being used for terrorism against Pakistan. &ldquo;The entire nation, including myself, stands resolute in its unwavering commitment to the war against terrorism,&rdquo; said PM Sharif.&nbsp; Sanitization operation continuesAccording to ISPR, Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces remain &ldquo;resolute and unwavering&rdquo; in their commitment to defending the nation&rsquo;s frontiers. A sanitization operation was undertaken to eliminate any remaining Indian-sponsored terrorists in the area.&nbsp; The counterterrorism campaign under the Azm-i-Istehkam vision, approved by the federal apex committee on the National Action Plan, will continue at full pace to eliminate &ldquo;foreign-sponsored terrorism&rdquo; from the country, ISPR said.

A Pakistani soldier stands guard in a bunker at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Chaman on February 27, 2026, following overnight cross-border firing between the two countries. (Photo: AFP/File)

Security

The military's media wing urges the Afghan Taliban regime to fulfill its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by terrorists and the involvement of its citizens in terrorism inside Pakistan.

Articles tagged with "Afghanistan"

Afghan Taliban’s focus on religious schools is discouraging students from education

Afghan Taliban's legalization of child marriage, another assault on women's rights

Afghan Taliban to sell confiscated housing estates back to residents

Afghanistan hunger crisis worsens; women, children hardest hit, says UN

UN rapporteur urges recognition of gender apartheid in Afghanistan

Pakistan says 'no temporary ceasefire in place' with Afghan Taliban

Pakistan condemns Afghan border firing, highlights Iran-US de-escalation diplomacy

Deadly attack on civilians in Afghanistan draws international condemnation

Australian soldier charged for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan

Eight terrorists killed in North Waziristan operation: Pakistan military

Afghan Taliban’s focus on religious schools is discouraging students from education