AGP Executive Report

Women’s Rights at UN: UN chief António Guterres and UN Women mark one year since Afghan women were barred from entering UN premises, calling it unprecedented, illegal, and harmful to humanitarian delivery; the Islamic Emirate’s Vice and Virtue Ministry says rights are guaranteed under Islamic law. Press Freedom Under Pressure: The Afghanistan Journalists Center condemns Taliban closure of Kabul outlets Rah-e-Farda TV and Seday-e-Eslah Radio, citing raids, sealing of offices, and detentions. Higher Education Push: Islamic Emirate spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says new master’s/PhD programmes and faculties are being prepared, with 110,064 certificates issued last year and priority for domestic lecturers. Education Crisis Warning: UN expert Richard Bennett warns Taliban policies are deepening Afghanistan’s education breakdown, with madrassa expansion potentially replacing formal schooling, while children face indoctrination, violence, and early marriage. Children’s Future at Risk: Bennett’s report also highlights how discrimination and repression are shrinking opportunities for girls and boys alike.

Domestic Production Push: A three-day exhibition in Bamiyan kicked off with 100 booths showcasing agricultural products, traditional crafts, and domestically manufactured goods, aiming to boost local consumption and investment. UN Rights Alarm: The UN marked one year since Afghan women were barred from entering UN offices, saying the restriction undermines humanitarian delivery and violates international law. Girls’ Education in the Shadows: Reports highlight how Afghan girls are learning through secret schooling as Taliban secondary education bans persist. Kabul Seminary Crackdown: Taliban forces detained 12 instructors at Kabul’s Khatam al-Nabieen seminary amid resident protests and evacuation orders, raising alarms for Shia education and religious life. Child Hunger Warning: A UN expert warned that 9 million Afghan children face severe hunger and 3.7 million suffer acute malnutrition, deepening the education-and-livelihood crisis. Gender-Based Violence Focus: The UN urged governments to prevent gender-based violence, enforce laws, and end impunity as restrictions tighten daily life for women and girls.

Education Crisis: UN special rapporteur Richard Bennett warns Taliban restrictions and poverty are harming nearly every part of Afghan children’s lives, with severe hunger, child labor, forced/child marriage, and the dismantling of child-protection systems pushing a generation toward “potentially irreversible harm.” Girls’ Learning in the Shadows: A report highlights secret schools where educators keep teaching girls despite the Taliban’s ban on secondary education. Religious Institutions Under Pressure: In Kabul, Taliban forces raided the Khatam al-Nabieen seminary, detaining 12 instructors and triggering Shia community protests over evacuation orders. Madrassas Expanding Fast: Bennett also flags the rapid growth of religious schools, warning they may replace formal education and deepen Afghanistan’s wider education crisis. Humanitarian Watch: UN Human Rights Council’s upcoming session will include Afghanistan-focused discussions on rights and humanitarian conditions. Refugee & Mobility News: Guyana began receiving a small, vetted group of Afghan and Cuban deportees from the US under a one-year IOM-assisted third-country arrangement, with costs covered by the US.

Heritage Under Threat: Historic sites in Ghazni are deteriorating fast due to natural disasters, years of conflict, and poor preservation, with residents warning that structures like the Bala Hissar and old city could be lost without urgent restoration. Education & Rights: As the new school year begins, people in Afghanistan are urging the Taliban to let girls return to education beyond sixth grade, while EU officials again raised serious concerns about crimes against humanity tied to the treatment of Afghan women and girls. Humanitarian Access: UN reporting says dozens of humanitarian programs have been suspended, and charities on the ground admit help is uneven—some families say they were registered but never received support. Women’s Resistance: A Germany event marked five years of Taliban rule by highlighting Afghan women’s organizing and the push for education and public protest despite repression. Trade & Livelihoods: Economic activists in Peshawar are calling to reopen Afghanistan–Pakistan trade routes, saying the suspension has already cost Pakistan’s trade sector over $1 billion. Diplomacy & Aid: UNGA declared Nov. 27 the International Day to Eliminate Child Marriage, with Afghanistan listed among co-sponsors, while EU funding was reported for development work via the Aga Khan Foundation.

Education & Rights: New school year protests in Afghanistan urge the Taliban to let girls study beyond sixth grade, while EU officials say Taliban policies toward women may amount to crimes against humanity. Cultural Resistance: In Germany, events mark five years of Taliban rule with a focus on women’s organizing, education spaces, and solidarity against patriarchal violence. Charity & Daily Life: On International Day of Charity, Afghan families report uneven access to charitable support, with calls to shift aid from short-term consumption to longer-term investment. Shia Community Watch: Shia students in Kabul demand reopening of the Khatam al-Anbiya Hawza mosque, school, and library after weeks of closure. Humanitarian Governance: The Taliban reports cash assistance to hundreds of thousands of orphans, widows, and people with disabilities, alongside food and non-food support. Migration Pressure: Deportations under “third country” deals continue, with Guyana receiving vetted Afghan deportees from the U.S. under a temporary arrangement. Diplomacy: Cambridge Afghanistan Series talks in the UK explore cooperation among Taliban opponents, highlighting disagreements over justice and power-sharing.

Afghan Kazakh Culture: An exhibition in Mazar-i-Sharif showcased Kazakh handicrafts, traditional attire, and heritage symbols, with Balkh’s information and culture officials calling such events key to preserving Afghanistan’s diverse identity. Education & Rights: A UN-backed resolution set 27 November as an International Day to eliminate child, early, and forced marriage, with Afghanistan listed among co-sponsoring countries. Women’s Access to Learning: Reports highlight how Afghan girls are turning to virtual classes and online support to keep studying despite Taliban restrictions. Humanitarian Pressure: The UN says 18 aid programmes were suspended in Afghanistan in July, underscoring worsening needs. Culture in Daily Life: In Oregon, Afghan families are keeping food traditions alive through local shops and community grocery routines, showing how culture travels and adapts after displacement. Trade & Connectivity: Calls grow to reopen Afghanistan-Pakistan trade routes after closures hit livelihoods and commerce on both sides.

Girls’ Art as Resistance: In Ghazni, nearly 10 girls barred from education are turning to painting to express what they feel and to show the world what Afghan women are facing, even as they say art can’t replace school. Women’s Rights in Performance: Afghan pop star Aryana Sayeed is taking her “Ladies Only” Europe tour to keep audiences women-only, using music and DEFAW activism to challenge Taliban restrictions. Humanitarian Access Under Pressure: The UN reports Taliban interference and limits on women’s participation have disrupted aid, with 18 aid programs temporarily suspended in July and 30 access incidents recorded. Malnutrition Crisis: UNICEF warns 4.9 million women and children in Afghanistan need malnutrition treatment in 2026 as food insecurity, disease, and disasters worsen. Culture & Community: Afghan Kazakhs held a handicrafts exhibition in Balkh, spotlighting local craft traditions amid ongoing social strain. Trade Routes Call: Pakistani and Afghan voices in Peshawar urged reopening Afghanistan-Pakistan trade crossings, saying closures are hurting livelihoods on both sides.

Girls’ Education Under Taliban Rule: The New York Times spotlights how Afghan girls are risking arrest to attend secret schools after the Taliban banned formal education beyond sixth grade, with millions locked out of secondary education. Cultural Heritage & Identity: In Balkh, Afghan Kazakhs held a handicrafts and carpet-weaving exhibition in Mazar-e-Sharif, calling for stronger government support to preserve their traditions. Economic & Industrial Development: Deputy PM Baradar says Afghanistan can build independence through domestic production and infrastructure, launching rehabilitation work for the Sana-e-Sabz Industrial Park and proposing an Islamic culture printing and publishing center. War’s Lasting Human Cost: UNAMA reports that decades of conflict have left most Afghan victims with psychological trauma and physical harm, while many are still denied justice or compensation. Humanitarian Access Tightened: OCHA says Taliban restrictions disrupted 18 humanitarian programmes in July, including barriers for female staff and interference with aid delivery.

Industrial & Culture Infrastructure: Kabul’s Sana-e-Sabz Industrial Park is getting a rehabilitation push, with Deputy Prime Minister Baradar linking domestic production, jobs, and infrastructure to economic independence, and laying groundwork for an Afghanistan Islamic Culture Printing and Publishing Production Center to cut paper imports and support cultural preservation. Humanitarian Access & Women’s Aid Work: UN OCHA reports Taliban-linked restrictions in July forced temporary suspension of 18 humanitarian programmes and disrupted women’s participation, including limits on female staff and requirements for women to be accompanied by a mahram. Education Under Taliban Rule (Online Lifelines): Afghan girls barred from school are continuing learning through virtual and underground classes abroad, including Toronto-based educator Hazrat Wahriz’s weekly literature sessions and SOLA’s Rwanda campus offering a safer permanent home for students. War’s Long Shadow: A UNAMA report says decades of conflict have left most victims with lasting psychological trauma and many with physical injuries, while justice and compensation remain largely out of reach. Water & Daily Life: Parwan province launched 19 water supply networks to deliver clean drinking water to 4,500 families, aiming to ease chronic shortages. Culture in the Diaspora: Afghan cuisine entrepreneur Sophia Zekria is bringing “Kor” (home) to San Luis Obispo through Kor Kitchen, with plans to expand from catering and pop-ups toward a permanent restaurant.

Education & Rights: A UN report says Afghanistan’s war has left deep trauma for civilians, with 95% of interviewed victims reporting psychological harm and many still facing long-term physical injuries and barriers to care. Girls’ Education Under Taliban Rule: A new exclusive look at Kabul’s secret underground schools shows teenage girls risking their lives to keep learning as Taliban restrictions tighten. Humanitarian & Accountability: UNAMA documented more than 40,000 civilian deaths and over 77,000 wounded between 2009 and 2021, but victims say they still lack justice and reparation. Diplomacy & Regional Security: At the SCO summit in Bishkek, leaders adopted the Bishkek Declaration, stressing the bloc is not a military-political alliance while addressing terrorism, trade, connectivity, and Afghanistan-related concerns. US Policy Toward Taliban: The US rejected Taliban requests for investment in Afghanistan’s mining sector, saying it won’t engage with “terrorists.” Culture & Community: SOLA, an Afghanistan-for-girls school, opened a permanent campus in Rwanda, turning relocation into a long-term education lifeline. Civic Space: The Taliban defended its protest ban, arguing it complies with Islamic law and that protests “don’t exist” under it.

Protest Crackdown: The Taliban defended its nationwide ban on demonstrations, saying protests “don’t exist in Islamic law” and urging people to raise concerns with authorities instead of taking to the streets. Education & Youth: SOLA opened a permanent campus in Rwanda for Afghan girls, restarting classes after relocating from Afghanistan and keeping the school’s location tightly guarded for safety. Women’s Access to Learning: Reports highlight how Afghan girls are using virtual classes to continue education despite severe restrictions. Aid & Livelihoods: The EU approved €10 million for the Aga Khan Foundation’s BRIDGE program in Afghanistan, targeting resilience, inclusive development, economic growth, and reintegration across 10 provinces with a focus on women and young people. Diplomacy & Recognition: Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said countries that engaged with the Islamic Emirate gained more, while also claiming progress in expanding regional and European ties. Deportations: Germany deported 22 Afghan men to Kabul on a charter flight, citing enforceable orders and criminal records. Culture & Memory: A new book review spotlights “This Is Not a Cookbook,” using Persian food stories to preserve family memory and political meaning amid loss. International Arts Spotlight: Coverage of the Venice Biennale and Central Asia’s growing visibility in the global art world points to rising regional cultural influence.

Education & Rights: SOLA, founded by Afghan educator Shabana Basij-Rasikh, has opened a permanent school in Rwanda after fleeing Taliban rule, keeping girls’ education alive despite the risks. Humanitarian Focus: The Red Cross warns Afghanistan is being overlooked despite extreme needs, while UN reporting highlights deep trauma and widespread psychological harm for children. Women’s Education: Women and girls are finding workarounds for education restrictions, including virtual classes, as bans tighten access to secondary school and university. Regional Politics & Water: At the SCO summit in Bishkek, leaders—including Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz—repeated that water must never be weaponised and called for an inclusive political structure in Afghanistan. Migration Pressure: UN data says deportations from Pakistan and Iran have intensified, pushing millions of Afghans back toward a restrictive, Taliban-shaped reality. Culture & Heritage: A piece on Afghanistan’s Buddhist legacy reminds readers how the faith once connected India, Afghanistan, and Central Asia through shared cultural history.

Royal Lifestyle Shift: Buckingham Palace says Lt. Col. Jonny Thompson, the King and Queen’s senior equerry and a social-media favorite, will leave his role and the Army at year’s end. Regional Diplomacy & Water: At the SCO summit in Bishkek, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif urged that water—“lifeblood of the region”—must never be weaponised, tying the message to the Indus Waters Treaty and regional peace. Afghanistan Peace & Inclusion: SCO leaders renewed calls for an inclusive Afghan political structure representing ethnic and political groups, arguing it’s the only route to lasting stability. War’s Human Cost: UN reporting highlights decades of conflict trauma in Afghanistan, with most victims describing psychological harm and many facing long-term physical injuries and blocked access to justice. Forced Marriage Alarm: UK data says children under five were referred to the Forced Marriage Unit, with campaigners linking a share of cases to Afghan, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi communities. Deportation Pressure: UNHCR warns that millions of Afghans have been forced back after deportations, deepening hardship under Taliban rule.

SCO Summit in Bishkek: India’s PM Modi attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation at a tense global moment, with leaders including Putin, Xi and Iran’s Pezeshkian—signaling India’s push to stay central in Eurasian diplomacy. Afghan Humanitarian Alarm: The ICRC warns Afghanistan is slipping from global attention as malnutrition and a collapsing health system worsen, with clinic closures tied to funding cuts. Women’s Education Under Taliban: Women and girls are turning to virtual classes to bypass severe restrictions on schooling. Deportations and Displacement: A report describes millions of deportees being forced to restart after Taliban-era crackdowns and regional expulsions, including Afghans sent back via border crossings. ICE “Third Country” Deportations: New U.S. documents say ICE expanded deportations to Africa, including Afghans, raising fresh legal and human-rights concerns. Education Access and Rights: Afghanistan’s education sector faces ongoing gaps, including reports of schools lacking buildings and new rules tightening how education and public life operate. Culture & Community: A Netflix roundup highlights a documentary on 9/11’s lasting impact, including young Afghans shaped by the war and withdrawal.

Humanitarian Focus: The ICRC warns Afghanistan is slipping off the world’s radar as funding cuts force clinic closures and leave millions of children facing severe malnutrition, urging the public “not to abandon Afghan communities.” Refugees & Rights: The European Parliament plans a human-rights hearing on deportations of Afghan refugees, after Germany accelerated returns and a Taliban delegation pushed for faster removals—raising fears for women, girls, journalists, and activists. Education & Activism: A new report highlights how Afghanistan’s girls’ education remains under pressure, with Taliban-era restrictions and the long fight for schooling still shaping daily life. Culture & Lifestyle: A Kabul journalist’s family faces uncertainty after the death of Abdullah Hatif, while the Taliban police say arrests were made—another reminder of how culture, media, and safety collide under the current order. International Policy Impact: The U.S. court blocks a visa policy that would have targeted applicants from 75 countries including Afghanistan, a legal win that could affect mobility for Afghans and families.

Education Under the Islamic Emirate: Afghanistan’s education authorities say they’ve built 238 schools and religious seminaries and renovated 970, with 7.62 million students enrolled, while the girls’ education ban beyond grade six remains “under review” with no reopening timeline. Deportations & Diaspora Pressure: The U.S. expanded “third-country” deportations, including 12 Afghans sent to the Central African Republic, even after a judge granted protection over Taliban persecution fears tied to relatives’ work with the U.S. Gender Justice in Courts: A Gender Justice in International Criminal Law conference in The Hague will spotlight accountability for gendered harms in conflicts affecting women and girls, including Afghanistan. Culture & Daily Life: A Kabul eyewitness account revisits how life shifted from the republic’s hope to Taliban rule. Community Safety & Health: A hospital fire-safety scandal after infant deaths highlights deadly gaps in preparedness and alarms. Lifestyle & Tradition: Peshawar’s Qissakhwani bazaar keeps “qehwa” tea-house storytelling alive as a counter to screen-heavy life. Rights & Refugee Return Debate: The European Parliament plans to discuss the return of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers to Afghanistan amid human-rights concerns.