Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, has urged Afghanistan’s caretaker government to lift all restrictions imposed on women and girls and reconsider its policies toward them. Mr. Dar made the remarks today (Wednesday, September 23) at the first meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s Contact Group on Afghanistan. He said that the restrictions imposed on women and girls were “unjustifiable and contrary to Islamic principles and the norms of Muslim societies.” He also called for regional and multilateral engagement and dialogue with the current government, saying that such engagement should encourage it to meet its international obligations. Pakistan’s foreign minister stressed that Afghanistan faces sanctions, terrorism, narcotics, problems with its banking system, unemployment, poverty and human rights concerns. He said that, for more than five years, the country’s political situation had not been recognized by the international community. Mr. Dar urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to work to provide sufficient humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and ensure that the humanitarian needs of its people are met without political considerations. He also emphasized the importance of stabilizing Afghanistan’s economy and reviving its banking system. He said that creating opportunities for trade and economic activity, as well as regional connectivity projects, could help reduce unemployment and poverty in Afghanistan. Since taking control of Afghanistan, the caretaker government has barred women and girls from education. In its latest restriction, it closed the doors of medical institutes to women and girls, even as the country’s health sector faces a shortage of personnel. The current government’s actions have left millions of girls unable to access education. Women have also been barred from going to sports clubs, restaurants and public baths; being examined by male doctors; travelling without a male guardian; and working for domestic and international non-governmental organizations or even at United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

Fariba Hashimi, a cyclist from Afghanistan, secured a silver medal in the women's road race at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan. Hashimi crossed the finish line in the Shinshiro cycling competition with a time of 2 hours, 50 minutes, and 5 seconds, finishing in second place. Guo Li from China won the gold medal, and Leung Wing-yi from Hong Kong took home the bronze medal. This was Hashimi's second competition in this edition of the Asian Games. Additionally, she placed seventh in the women's individual time trial competition on Sunday. Hashimi is 23 years old and previously competed for Afghanistan alongside her sister, Yaldoz Hashimi, at the Paris Olympics. She continues her professional cycling career in Europe. This comes at a time when, following the return of the interim government to power, women and girls in Afghanistan have been completely banned from participating in all sports disciplines, leading to the disbandment of Afghanistan's women's national sports teams. As a result of this action, many Afghan female athletes who were part of the national team have been forced to leave the country.

The International Chess Federation has recently announced that five women will represent Afghanistan at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. In a statement, the federation mentioned that the competition will take place from September 15 to 27 in Samarkand. The International Chess Federation stated that more than 193 teams in the open section and 181 teams in the women's section from around the world are expected to participate in this round. The statement noted that Hasina Akbar, Setara Azizi, Noreen Gowhari, Balqis Gonesh, and Zainab Farhanmand will compete on behalf of Afghanistan. This comes at a time when, in Afghanistan, not only is women's sports banned, but chess has also been prohibited. Additionally, the chess federation has been removed from the structure of the Afghanistan National Physical Education and Sports Authority.

Harish Parvataneni, India's representative to the United Nations, has called on the international community to support the women and girls and other citizens of Afghanistan and to continue cooperation with the country. Mr. Parvataneni expressed concern over the forced return of Afghan migrants, stating that returns should be voluntary, safe, and conducted with respect for human dignity. He made these remarks during a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan and emphasized that the international community must support women and all Afghans and continue engagement with Afghanistan in a principled and sustainable manner. Parvataneni stated that India has contributed to the development of Afghanistan through over 500 collaborative projects in all 34 provinces of the country. He added, "Our commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan will continue. We are working with UN agencies as well as organizations like the Afghan Red Crescent to deliver aid to those who need it most." The Indian representative referenced a report from the UN Secretary-General, noting that 150 health centers in Afghanistan were closed in the first half of this year and urged countries to invest in strengthening the country's health system. Parvataneni further noted that India has become one of the major destinations for Afghan exports and is committed to expanding bilateral trade to support Afghanistan's economic development. He also mentioned that the relationship between India and Afghanistan is historic and goes beyond today's borders.

The Afghanistan Cancer Foundation has recently announced that over 1.5 million people in Afghanistan are suffering from cancer, with breast and cervical cancers being among the most common types affecting women in the country. Shafiq Shinwari, the head of the Afghanistan Cancer Foundation, stated that according to national and international estimates, breast and cervical cancers are among the most prevalent types of cancer among women, while prostate and colorectal cancers are common among men. He further emphasized that approximately 5,000 new cases of cancer are identified annually in Afghanistan, with various factors contributing to the increase in these cases. Breast and cervical cancers are among the diseases that women in Afghanistan are facing. Despite the rising incidence of cancer, limited access to diagnostic and treatment services, high treatment costs, and a lack of specialized medical facilities can make the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases more challenging for women. Previously, United Nations agencies had reported that 14.4 million people in Afghanistan require humanitarian health services, while these agencies are facing severe budget shortages. Meanwhile, Afghanistan's healthcare system has been struggling for decades with extensive challenges, including reliance on international aid, shortages of medications and equipment, and a lack of specialized doctors. Earlier, Save the Children also reported that 600 health centers have closed in Afghanistan due to budget shortfalls.

The United Nations has recently emphasized the vital role of women in delivering humanitarian aid to women and girls in Afghanistan, stating that their presence is essential for providing services safely, appropriately, and with dignity. OCHA, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, has noted that women continue to work to deliver services to communities in need despite security difficulties, access restrictions, and operational challenges. Bruno Lemarquis, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, expressed appreciation for humanitarian workers, especially Afghan women. He stressed that the activities of women and girls in the humanitarian sector still face very serious obstacles. He highlighted the expertise, resilience, and commitment of Afghan women as crucial to ensuring access for women and girls to humanitarian assistance, stating: "Humanitarian aid cannot effectively reach women and girls without the presence of female humanitarian workers in Afghanistan." He emphasized that women working in the humanitarian sector in Afghanistan operate under conditions where access to many areas is difficult, and resource limitations and operational challenges have complicated the aid delivery process. Furthermore, it was mentioned that they work in areas including health services, psychosocial support, protection, education, and other humanitarian activities with communities in need. This comes at a time when millions of people in Afghanistan are facing poverty, food insecurity, displacement, natural disasters, and the impacts of climate change.

Mohammad Khan Hedayat, an official from the HIV/AIDS department at the Afghan-Japan Hospital, states that from March 2025 until now, at least 286 cases of AIDS or HIV have been reported in Afghanistan. Officials at the Afghan-Japan Hospital report that according to published statistics, 86 positive cases have been registered in just the past five months, and the number of AIDS cases has doubled compared to previous years. Mr. Hedayat emphasized, "In 2022, we registered 81 patients throughout the entire year, and last year we recorded 200 cases in one year. In the past five months, we have registered 86 patients." Statistics released last year indicated that from the beginning of 2025 until the end of October, over 82,000 people had undergone AIDS testing, of which 300 were positive. Dina Patel, the HIV project manager at the United Nations Development Program, also stated last year that according to global estimates, around 13,000 people live with this virus in Afghanistan, but only a portion of these individuals have been identified, and many infected individuals are unaware of their status. She added that most positive cases have been recorded among drug users who share needles and prisoners. According to this UN official, since the first case of HIV was registered in Afghanistan in 1989, four hundred people have lost their lives to the disease. Doctors indicate that AIDS is a viral disease that can be transmitted through blood, sexual intercourse, and from mother to child. Currently, there is no definitive cure for this disease; however, it can be managed with appropriate medical care.

The Ministry of Higher Education of the caretaker government has recently announced the revocation of the operating license for Khatam al-Nabiyeen Private University, and the doors of its building in Kabul, as well as its branch in Ghazni, have been closed. Ziaullah Hashimi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Higher Education, stated in a message on his X account that the reason for revoking the university's license was "non-compliance with the ministry's policies, disrespect for Islamic values, and the improper use of the university's status and position." He further emphasized that the leadership council of the Ministry of Higher Education made the decision to revoke Khatam al-Nabiyeen University's license. He added that current students of Khatam al-Nabiyeen University will be referred to other private universities. It is worth mentioning that Khatam al-Nabiyeen University was considered one of the reputable private universities in Afghanistan. Mohammad Jawad Mohseni, head of Tamadon TV, and Abdul Qayoom Sajadi, a former member of the House of Representatives, are among the owners of this university. Additionally, Mohammad Jawad Mohseni issued a statement saying that the university's operations were halted after nearly twenty years of academic, educational, and research activities due to pressures from the Minister of Justice and with the collaboration of individuals within the Ministry of Higher Education. He emphasized: "After the claims made by the Minister of Justice regarding the alleged illegitimacy of the land, the university's political affiliations, and other accusations were refuted with documents, evidence, and substantiated reasons, the Minister of Justice sent a letter to the Ministry of Higher Education requesting the cessation of university activities. This letter also referenced issues of religion and ethnicity, and if necessary, its content will be made public." He added that the Minister of Higher Education did not agree with the claims made by the Minister of Justice and supported the preservation of the university; therefore, he inquired about the matter through a letter from the government leadership in Kandahar. The caretaker government had previously closed Tamadon TV and Khatam al-Nabiyeen School as well. The Ministry of Justice had stated that the land of this media outlet and religious school is illegitimate.

Sofia Sarwari, an Afghan martial artist, won the gold medal at the Amateur World Grappling Championships held in Krakow, Poland, with three consecutive victories. Sofia competed in the 45 kg category for girls aged 11 to 12 years and defeated all three of her opponents using submission techniques. According to reports, she first defeated Amy Kamplik from Germany and then secured victory against Yelyzaveta Dranitska from Ukraine in her second match. In her third and most challenging match, the Afghan athlete faced Alina Kuvirnova, another representative from Ukraine, and once again utilized a submission technique to claim victory, earning the championship title and the gold medal with three consecutive wins. The report noted that in this weight category and age group, there were eight athletes participating from Afghanistan, Germany, Ukraine, and the Czech Republic. Sofia Sarwari achieved this title while having previously won medals in other competitions. The ADCC 2026 Amateur and Professional Grappling Championships took place from September 11 to 13 in Krakow, Poland. More than 1,600 athletes registered for the event, although the final cap for participants was set at 1,500.

Nagina Mahyari, an Afghan-origin woman and candidate of the right-wing party "Alternative for Germany" (AfD), has won the local election in Hanover, securing 1,269 votes. Ms. Mahyari directly entered the Hanover Regional Council by obtaining 53.8% of the total votes for candidates from her party. Reports indicate that Nagina Mahyari was on the list of candidates for the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) for the Hanover City Council and the Kirschrode-Bemerode-Wolfenbüttel Regional Council. In this constituency, Julian Schnell received 583 votes, equivalent to 24.7%, and Florine Borsdorf garnered 505 votes, or 21.4%, coming after Mahyari. Additionally, it was noted that the right-wing Alternative for Germany party secured three seats in the regional council in this area, whereas the party had only one seat in the previous term. As a result, the number of representatives from this party in the Kirschrode-Bemerode-Wolfenbüttel Regional Council in Lower Saxony has tripled. This Afghan-origin member of the right-wing Alternative for Germany party was born and raised in the country, and she states that her parents are from Afghanistan and Tajikistan. She is the daughter of Rahim Mahyari and Parasto Mahyari, two well-known singers from Afghanistan. Earlier, her candidacy from an anti-immigrant party in Germany had sparked reactions. Nagina Mahyari stated before the elections that her joining the party is a personal decision, and she supports the party's positions on immigration, including the expulsion of undocumented migrants, deportation of criminal Afghans, and the so-called "re-migration" policy. She emphasized that her decision to join the Alternative for Germany party is not related to her parents' activities or opinions. The local elections in Lower Saxony took place while the right-wing party known as Alternative for Germany has been attempting to increase its presence in local councils in some areas of this state. Nagina Mahyari's victory and the acquisition of three seats by this party in the Kirschrode-Bemerode-Wolfenbüttel Regional Council indicate a significant increase in the party's representation compared to the previous term.