AGP Executive Report

Media Access: Taliban authorities have suspended BBC Dari, Pashto and English FM broadcasts across Afghanistan, citing unspecified “repeated violations”; the BBC says its services remain available through other channels. Girls’ Education and Health: UNICEF says more than 2.6 million girls have been shut out of education since 2021, while restrictions on girls’ schooling and women’s work in healthcare are making it harder for pregnant women to get care. In Bamyan, one pregnant woman reportedly travelled more than four hours by donkey to reach a clinic. Women’s Opportunities: Afghan educationist Shabana Basij-Rasikh has pledged $2.5 million for annual Oxford master’s scholarships for Afghan women, covering tuition and living costs. Meanwhile, reports highlight women struggling financially as salon closures cost hairdressers their livelihoods. Afghan Food Abroad: Parwana Afghan Kitchen in South Australia was among the restaurants awarded a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide’s first Australian selection.

Healthcare Access: In Bamyan, a pregnant woman travelled more than four hours by donkey to reach an MSF-supported clinic, underscoring how difficult medical care remains in remote communities. Media: Taliban authorities suspended BBC FM broadcasts nationwide, saying the move followed repeated violations; the BBC says millions rely on its reporting. Pilgrimage and Lifestyle: Saudi Arabia’s new year-long, multiple-entry Umrah visa has prompted a surge in Afghan bookings, with some young couples choosing Mecca for their weddings. Women’s Livelihoods: The closure of beauty salons has left Afghan hairdressers struggling with unemployment as restrictions narrow women’s ways to earn a living. Arts: Afghan painter Robaba Mohammadi, based in Canada, was named Artist of the Year at the 2026 MAX Awards. Girls’ Education: Afghan girls are again calling for schools to reopen, while reports from Kandahar say hundreds of fifth-grade girls have been barred from classes.

Media: Taliban authorities suspended BBC FM broadcasts nationwide, citing unspecified “repeated violations.” BBC programs remain available by shortwave, medium wave and online. Education: Students in Helmand say Taliban training centers have better facilities and stipends than public institutes, where learning materials are scarce and student allowances have ended. Women’s livelihoods: Salon closures have left many Afghan hairdressers unemployed or earning far less from home-based work, deepening hardship for families that depend on their income. Kabul housing: Thousands of residents in Hazara-majority Omid Sabz fear eviction after a Taliban court declared their township’s land state property; some say officials are demanding rent and pressuring families to leave. Afghan art: Canada-based painter and entrepreneur Robaba Mohammadi, born in Ghazni, was named Artist of the Year at the 2026 MAX Awards.

Rights and Safety: Genocide Watch says Taliban critics, journalists, former officials and minorities face arbitrary detention, torture and execution; it reports 777 detentions and 12 public executions since 2021. Women’s Livelihoods: Despite restrictions, Afghan women are finding ways to earn. One Kabul jewelry business founded by a woman at 17 now employs about 20 people. Girls’ Education: UNICEF says 28.7% of Afghan women aged 20–24 married before 18, while local sources say about 500 fifth-grade girls in Kandahar have been barred from school. Education advocate Shabana Basij-Rasikh has announced a $2.5 million Oxford scholarship fund for Afghan women. Culture and Connectivity: UNESCO warns the Minaret of Jam faces serious threats. In Ghazni’s Nahor district, residents say they walk 30 to 40 minutes to find an internet signal strong enough to communicate or access learning resources.

Women’s Livelihoods: Afghan women are building businesses despite shrinking options under Taliban restrictions. In Kabul, one young entrepreneur has grown a jewelry and design venture from a small start into a business employing about 20 people. Girls’ Education: Girls again called for schools to reopen, while local sources say around 500 fifth-grade girls in Kandahar have been barred from class. Afghan education advocate Shabana Basij-Rasikh has announced a $2.5 million Oxford scholarship fund for Afghan women. Child Marriage: UNICEF says 28.7% of Afghan women aged 20 to 24 married before 18, with rates reaching one in two girls in some areas. It urged authorities to reopen girls’ schools and strengthen protection and health services. Women’s Rights: The ICC has unsealed arrest warrants for four Taliban officials accused of persecuting women and LGBTQ people. Cultural Heritage: UNESCO warns that the Minaret of Jam faces serious threats; Uzbekistan has offered help restoring historic sites in Afghanistan.

Literary Loss: Poet and journalist Talib Mangal was laid to rest in Khost after dying in a traffic accident at 40. The province’s culture department says it will publish his unpublished work. Girls’ Education: Afghan girls marked the International Day of the Girl by urging authorities to reopen schools and universities; Hamid Karzai also renewed his call. School Exclusion: Local sources say about 500 fifth-grade girls in Kandahar have been barred from classes, though the figure and decision have not been independently confirmed. Children at Risk: A UN report says 1,415 children were killed or maimed in Afghanistan from 2023 to 2025, most by explosive devices and remnants of war. Cultural Heritage: UNESCO warns the Minaret of Jam faces serious threats and says monitoring and flood-protection work is underway to preserve the historic site. Education Abroad: Afghan medical interns and specialist trainees in Pakistan face pressure to leave, while visa delays have left some students unsure whether they can continue their studies.

Girls’ Rights: On International Day of the Girl, UNICEF said 28.7% of Afghan women aged 20–24 married before 18; in some areas, the figure reaches one in two. It urged stronger protections and the reopening of schools to girls beyond sixth grade. Former president Hamid Karzai also called for girls to return to schools and universities. Cultural Heritage: An Uzbek delegation pledged help restoring historic sites in northern Afghanistan, including the Mashrab Baba shrine complex in Takhar, with plans for a library, mosque and public green space. Women’s Education: Afghan educator Shabana Basij-Rasikh announced a $2.5 million scholarship fund for Afghan women at Oxford.

Children at Risk: A UN report says 1,415 children were killed or injured in Afghanistan from 2023 to 2025, while 557 child-recruitment cases were recorded, all attributed to the Taliban. Women’s Rights: UNAMA says more than 50 women and one girl were detained in Kabul and Herat, reportedly over dress-code violations. Education: Afghan educator Shabana Basij-Rasikh has established a $2.5 million Oxford fund for Afghan women, offering at least one fully funded master’s scholarship each year. Mental Health: The WHO urged Afghans to listen without judgment, as more than half the population faces psychological distress and specialist care remains scarce. A Long Aftermath: Twenty-five years after the US-led invasion, Afghans continue to weigh its promises of freedom against foreign intervention and Taliban restrictions on women’s lives.

Women’s Education: Afghan educator Shabana Basij-Rasikh has established a $2.5 million Oxford scholarship fund for Afghan women, covering a master’s degree, living costs and leadership training for at least one student each year. Dress-Code Arrests: UNAMA says Taliban authorities detained 52 women and one girl in Kabul and Herat between July and September over alleged dress-code violations, including wearing makeup or colorful scarves; all were released after several hours. Mental Health: The WHO urged Afghans to listen and support one another, warning that more than half the population experiences psychological distress while specialist services remain scarce. Learning in Secret: Afghan women are also stitching together opportunities to study through hidden sewing classes, as restrictions continue to shut girls and women out of formal education.

Migration: France says it is in technical talks with Afghanistan’s authorities to return Afghans it considers security threats, while saying women and asylum seekers are excluded. Women’s Education: Afghan women are holding secret sewing classes to continue learning, as UNICEF warns the number of female teachers has fallen sharply in just two years. Rights: UNAMA says Taliban authorities detained 52 women and one girl over alleged dress-code violations in Kabul and Herat. Culture: A film about Afghan activist Zarqa Yaftali won a Silver Dolphin at Cannes, while a campaign is under way to establish an Afghanistan pavilion at the 2028 Venice Biennale.

Women’s Education: Afghan women are secretly studying English, maths and nursing in backroom classes disguised as sewing lessons, as the ban on girls’ education beyond primary school enters its fifth year. Women’s Rights: UNAMA says Taliban authorities detained 52 women and one girl over alleged dress-code violations in Kabul and Herat during a three-month period. Returns and Deportations: More than 581,000 Afghans returned from Iran in 2026 through October 3, UNHCR says; 85% were deported. France also confirmed technical talks with the Taliban to return Afghans it considers security risks, saying the discussions do not target asylum seekers or women. Child Protection: A US State Department report says the Taliban and other armed groups continue recruiting children, while boys face sexual exploitation. Arts and Heritage: An Afghan film about activist Zarqa Yaftali won a Silver Dolphin at Cannes, while a campaign is underway to establish an Afghanistan pavilion at the 2028 Venice Biennale.

Women’s Rights: UNAMA says Taliban authorities detained 52 women and one girl in Kabul and Herat from July to September over alleged dress-code violations, including wearing makeup or colourful scarves. Cultural Heritage: An Afghan Jewish wedding headdress made around 1870 reflects cultural exchange, combining Central Asian design with Hebrew lettering. War’s Legacy: As Afghanistan marks 25 years since the US-led invasion, Afghan voices say hopes for democracy endure despite the Taliban’s return and worsening restrictions on women and girls. Afghan Cinema: A film about activist Zarqa Yaftali has won a Silver Dolphin at Cannes. Education: OCHA says $160 million is needed to meet Afghanistan’s education needs.

Women’s Rights: UNAMA says Taliban authorities detained at least 52 women and one girl in Kabul and Herat from July to September over alleged dress-code violations, including wearing makeup or colorful scarves. The mission also warned of beatings, threats and likely underreporting. Accountability: Afghanistan’s acting UN representative called for an end to gender-based persecution and discriminatory decrees, and urged support for an independent investigative mechanism. Culture: A documentary about women’s rights and education activist Zarqa Yaftali won a Silver Dolphin at the 2026 Cannes Media and Television Awards. Education: OCHA says Afghanistan needs $160 million for education this year, but just $22 million has been secured; girls remain barred from secondary school, while teachers face shortages and financial strain. Press Freedom: Afghan female journalists say the government smartphone ban is making it harder to reach officials and report stories, further threatening their work.

Afghan Stories on Screen: Displaced filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat’s Super Afghan Gym is among five films backed by Cate Blanchett’s Displacement Film Fund, bringing Afghan experience to the BFI London Film Festival. Art Without Borders: A campaign launched to create an independent Afghanistan pavilion at the 2028 Venice Biennale, giving Afghan artists a platform amid growing restrictions at home. Women’s Rights and Education: The ICC has issued arrest warrants for four Taliban officials over alleged persecution of women and girls; the Taliban rejects the court’s authority. Meanwhile, the ban on girls’ education is raising fears of a shortage of female teachers, many of whom continue working for low pay. Cultural Heritage: Takhar residents are calling for the restoration of ancient Ai-Khanoum, while the Taliban says it plans museums for artifacts from past wars.

Visual Arts: About 160 girls joined a Kabul painting competition, using their work to express themselves as school and university bans continue to restrict their education. Afghan Artists Abroad: A campaign to create an independent Afghanistan Pavilion at the 2028 Venice Biennale is set to launch Oct. 9, aiming to represent artists in Afghanistan and the diaspora. Film: A new collection supporting displaced filmmakers includes Super Afghan Gym by Afghan director Shahrbanoo Sadat, among five short films exploring displacement and connection. Literature: An Oregon library chose Patmeena Sabit’s novel Good People, about an Afghan refugee family, for its 2027 community reading program. Poetry: Taliban authorities detained a female poet in Takhar over poems critical of the authorities, according to reports.

Afghanistan After 20 Years: A new look at the 25-year arc since Oct. 7, 2001 asks what remains for Afghanistan after the US war, the chaotic 2021 withdrawal, and the return of the Islamic Emirate—alongside the human cost and the fate of those who lost everything. Regional Diplomacy: The Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan ended without a joint statement, with Russia saying the track will continue despite Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions. Women’s Rights Under Scrutiny: The ICC made public arrest warrants for Taliban leaders over alleged persecution of Afghan women and girls, including education and higher-education ministers. Education Under Pressure: UN officials stressed the Doha process and warned that restrictions on girls’ access to education threaten Afghanistan’s development. Culture & Youth Under Threat: Three Afghans were arrested after traveling to the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, where chess is banned in Afghanistan—highlighting how culture and sport can become high-risk. Diaspora Voices: Afghan American educator Hamayun Khan shared how SolaTeach aims to reopen education pathways for Afghan girls through new opportunities. Human Rights Defenders: A report says Women and Children Legal Research Foundation staff faced arbitrary detention and forced disappearance, with one still held.