AGP Executive Report

Girls’ Education Under Taliban: UNICEF warns Afghanistan’s Kankor university entrance exam is starting without girls for a fourth straight year, as restrictions keep women out of secondary school and higher education—hurting the future workforce and putting universities at risk. Humanitarian Neglect: The Norwegian Refugee Council ranks Afghanistan fifth among the world’s most neglected displacement crises in 2025, citing donor disengagement, poverty, disasters, forced returns, and ongoing restrictions on women and girls. Afghan Women’s Sports in Exile: Afghanistan’s women’s football team is rebuilding its dream after escaping the Taliban and years in exile, returning to the international stage and inspiring new hope. Education Scholarships Abroad: Education Above All (with Qatar Fund for Development) marks the graduation of 74 Afghan students across 27 US host institutions, celebrating continued access to higher education. Culture & Faith Leadership: Afghanistan’s IEA supreme leader calls for unity, patience, and reconciliation, urging officials to practice Sharia internally and strengthen a culture of forgiveness. Cricket as Cultural Spotlight: Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi is framed as the batting fulcrum for the team’s red-ball ambitions in the India Test, with education highlighted as a family value.

Education & Youth: Education Above All (EAA) and Qatar Fund for Development marked the graduation of 74 Afghan students across 27 U.S. institutions, backing learners whose studies were interrupted and helping them rebuild futures. Girls’ Rights & Economy: UNICEF Innocenti warns that bans on girls’ secondary education are shrinking Afghanistan’s future workforce, threatening health and teaching systems and weakening long-term stability. Higher Education Access: Taliban-run NEXA says the Kankor university entrance exam will start in Kabul after biometric registration, with exams set for two days. Women’s Voices in Diplomacy: Spain’s feminist foreign policy meeting condemned the Taliban’s “cruel and criminal” silencing of Afghan women, with officials reiterating support for women’s rights activists in exile. Culture & Community Life: Nuristan residents ask tourists to respect local traditions—especially by avoiding agricultural fields and keeping recreational areas clean. Everyday Security & Jobs: Kabul laborers complain unemployment is worsening and daily-wage work is scarce, while WFP reports weak labor-market conditions. Public Health & Safety: A UNICEF-backed analysis highlights how restrictions and insecurity are pushing families further into hardship, including risks for women and girls.

Urban Life in Kabul: Residents say Kabul’s civic norms are slipping as newcomers from provinces bring livestock into the city, adding noise and friction while environmental experts warn of rising pollution and health risks. Taliban Surveillance Tactics: Reports describe Taliban informant recruitment that includes being asked to identify “beautiful” girls and boys, with allegations that some killings may be linked to sexual abuse and attempts to silence victims. Afghan Women’s Rights Diplomacy: Spain’s foreign minister told a Madrid feminist foreign policy conference that Afghan women’s voices will always be heard, despite Taliban efforts to silence them. Child Marriage Condemned: The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child condemned Afghanistan’s decree legitimising child marriage and treating a girl’s silence as consent, calling it a grave rights violation. Afghan Women’s Football Returns: After years of exile, Afghan women players are rebuilding careers abroad; FIFA eligibility was approved and a camp in Auckland is set for international friendlies. Eid Travel Figures: Afghanistan’s culture ministry says nearly 4 million people travelled during Eid al-Adha, urging visitors to protect sites and respect local customs.

Gender & Rights Under Taliban: The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child condemned Afghanistan’s Decree No. 18, saying it legitimizes child marriage by treating a girl’s silence after puberty as consent, and warned it clashes with children’s rights and the ban on forced marriage. Women’s Safety in Conflict Zones: UN Women reported over 100,000 displaced in eastern Afghanistan after border clashes, with women and girls facing lost income, hunger, and severe psychological stress; it also warned about 50,000 women and girls at risk of gender-based violence. Education Access: Orphaned children in Zabul’s Khak-e-Afghan district called for a new school and dormitories, saying they can’t access modern education beyond a single religious school. Sports & Resilience: After escaping the Taliban, Afghanistan’s women’s football team is back on the international stage following renewed eligibility, with players training abroad and aiming to represent their flag again. Culture & Community Abroad: Hazara Culture Day was celebrated in Canada (including Calgary), with calls to preserve Hazara identity and plans for a permanent cultural and educational center. Regional Diplomacy: Pakistan and the EU urged Taliban authorities to take effective steps against terrorist groups using Afghan territory, as tensions and violence continue along the border.

Child Marriage Crackdown: The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child condemned a Taliban decree that legitimises child marriage and treats a girl’s silence as consent, calling it a grave violation of international law. Women’s Safety in Crisis: UN Women warned that about 50,000 Afghan women and girls in conflict-hit eastern areas face rising gender-based violence as healthcare and services deteriorate. Displacement and Hunger: Reports from eastern Afghanistan describe tens of thousands displaced by clashes and disasters, with women facing hunger, insecurity, and reduced access to aid. EU Deportation Push: EU lawmakers agreed on tougher migration rules that critics say mimic harsh “crackdown” tactics, including home raids and longer detention, while human rights groups urge the EU to reject Taliban engagement in Brussels. Cultural Resilience Abroad: Finland’s PM attended Hazara Culture Day, praising Hazara contributions and stressing concern over Taliban restrictions on women and girls. Sports as Resistance: After years of Taliban bans, the Afghan women’s soccer team is back for international competition, training in New Zealand and playing against the Cook Islands. Cyber Threats: A Pakistan-aligned SideCopy group was linked to Xeno RAT spear-phishing targeting Afghanistan’s Ministry of Finance and provincial offices.

Tourism & Culture: Kapisa welcomed more than 100,000 visitors during Eid al-Adha, with families heading to Nijrab waterfalls, Tagab valleys, Sayad Recreational Park, Reg-e-Rawan and Alasay, boosting local recreation and scenic tourism. Child Rights Crisis: The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child condemned Afghanistan’s de facto authorities over Decree No.18 (2026), which legitimises child marriage and treats a girl’s silence after puberty as consent, urging an explicit, unequivocal ban and restoration of girls’ education and protection. Women’s Health Access: OCHA warned that Taliban restrictions are limiting mothers’ and newborns’ access to life-saving services, despite Afghanistan’s extremely high maternal mortality rate. Education & Gender Apartheid: A new report highlights how Afghan female academics were barred from education and work after 2021, with universities closed to women and many scholars still unable to leave. Migration Pressure: Jan Egeland of the Norwegian Refugee Council warned that over four million Afghans in Iran face extreme vulnerability amid conflict, while returns are outpacing Afghanistan’s ability to receive people.

Asylum Access Tightened: U.S. internal documents say the Trump administration is drafting rules to reject some asylum requests without interviewing applicants, pushing rejected cases into deportation proceedings. Afghan Education & Daily Life: Reports highlight Afghan children pursuing schooling despite poverty and weak facilities, while UN Women and UNFPA warn that restrictions and lack of maternal care are deepening harm, including high obstetric fistula rates. Women’s Rights Push: Hamid Karzai again calls for reopening girls’ schools and universities and for women to return to work. Humanitarian Footprint: UN OCHA says 309 aid organizations are active across Afghanistan in early 2026, with Kabul and Kunar seeing the biggest operational presence. Pilgrimage Returns: Afghanistan’s Hajj ministry begins returning pilgrims from Saudi Arabia in scheduled flights over the next month. Tragedy on the Roads: At least 22 Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan died in a truck crash in Laghman, including 10 children.

Education & Women’s Rights: A new wave of reporting and commentary keeps spotlighting girls’ education under Taliban rule, from personal reflections on how schooling was shut in the 1990s to fresh calls for reopening schools and universities, including a campaign launched by Everest summiter Zakia Ahmad. UN Accountability: The UN documents conflict-related sexual violence in Afghanistan, with activists saying the numbers are only a fraction of what victims face in fear and repression. Child Marriage & Family Law: Protests in Norway condemn Taliban recognition of child marriage through spouse-separation rules, while UN Women warns the decree could normalize forced unions. Culture Under Restriction: In Ghazni, Taliban officials confiscated music devices and games from youth, adding to a broader pattern of music censorship. Energy & Daily Life: UNDP reports Afghanistan’s electricity insecurity is among the region’s highest, affecting school hours and basic services. Security & Governance: The Interior Ministry says firearm licenses will be issued under new procedures to curb gun ownership. Regional Diplomacy: Russia and the Taliban sign a military-technical cooperation deal, signaling deeper partnership. Human Stories: Kabul residents report rising burglaries, while a UN-backed education feature shows children still pursuing schooling despite poverty.

Education & Daily Life: In Kabul, 10-year-old Aisha waits for her father’s handcart wages to buy notebooks and pencils, showing how poverty and weak school facilities still block Afghan children’s dreams of becoming doctors. Girls’ Education Activism: Zakia Ahmad, an Afghan Everest summiter, launched a campaign urging global support for girls’ education as Taliban restrictions keep schools closed to many. Taliban Gender Policy: A senior Taliban cleric says girls’ schooling is “forbidden,” limiting education to religious topics tied to marriage and household duties. Women’s Work & Culture: Afghanistan’s first modern women’s fashion factory has started operations, using machinery and computerized production to create jobs and boost domestic culture. Family Law & Child Marriage: Reports say a new Taliban family law allows puberty “silence” to be treated as consent and raises alarm over child marriage. Religious Freedom: Two Shia scholars warn of rising pressure on Jaafari followers, including restrictions in education and social life. Tourism Glimpse: Polish tourists praise Afghanistan’s natural beauty and hospitality, while locals ask for better facilities and fewer travel permissions. International Rights Watch: UN reporting documents 21 cases of Taliban-linked conflict sexual violence against women and girls in 2025. Regional Security Context: Russia and the Taliban sign a military cooperation agreement, deepening geopolitical ties.

Women’s Rights & Asylum: The Netherlands will grant asylum to most Afghan women and girls, citing worsening Taliban restrictions and a 2024 “morality law” that curbs movement and autonomy. Education & Culture: Canada’s “Right to Learn Afghanistan” plans nationwide marches in support of Afghan women and girls’ right to education, with poetry and community solidarity events. Language & Identity: May 29 is marked as “National Pashto Language Day,” with cultural and literary gatherings and social media sharing. Safety & Community Life: Eastern Afghanistan’s truck crash killed 18 people, including 10 children, as families return from Pakistan amid stricter rules. Digital Security: A Pashto-themed spear-phishing campaign targeted Afghanistan’s Ministry of Finance, using a XenoRAT implant and detailed staff lists across provincial revenue directorates. Human Rights Abuse: A report highlights the continued reality of bacha bazi, describing systemic sexual exploitation of boys despite Taliban claims of opposition.

Women’s Rights & Education: The Netherlands says Afghan women and girls seeking asylum will be granted residence permits in “the vast majority of cases,” citing worsening conditions under Taliban “morality law” and restrictions on movement and development. Economic Life: In Ghor, women report that cuts and delays in international aid have crippled small businesses once supported by training and equipment, threatening poultry, tailoring, and embroidery livelihoods. Culture & Identity: Afghan-Australian author Bobuq Sayed brings his queer diaspora debut novel “No God But Us” to St. Petersburg, exploring love, immigration, and pressure under authoritarian society. Taboo & Health: Multiple reports keep spotlighting Afghanistan’s menstruation taboo—fear, poverty, and lack of education for girls and even boys—arguing silence must be broken. Religion & Community: UN Women and other voices continue urging protection of Afghan women’s rights and equal access to education amid ongoing restrictions.

Queer literature & diaspora: Afghan-Australian author Bobuq Sayed brings his debut novel “No God But Us” to Tombolo Books in St. Petersburg, tracing two gay Afghan men’s flight from the 2015 migrant crisis and their clash with authoritarian pressure. Women’s livelihoods under Taliban rule: In Ghor, women say aid cuts and restrictions have crippled small businesses like poultry, livestock, tailoring, and embroidery—leaving them with skills but no capital. Education pressures in Kabul: Private school teachers report low pay, delayed salaries, and heavy workloads, warning the crisis is damaging education quality. Shiite community tensions: A Shiite cleric in Kabul says Taliban religious pressure on Jafari followers has intensified, including demands that students adopt Hanafi practice. Child labor in Herat: An Amu TV investigation finds children working in Herat’s parks and markets amid drug use, crime, and unsafe conditions, with limited access to schooling. Sports & hope: Afghan climber Zakia Ahmad’s Everest summit is being framed as a rare image of possibility for Afghan women. Culture & identity: A feature revisits Delhi’s historic gateways, linking architecture to centuries of trade, empire, and cultural memory. Global spotlight on Afghanistan: Russia’s security forum reports a military cooperation pact with the Afghan Taliban, signaling deeper regional ties.

Women’s Rights & Family Law: UNICEF and UN Women condemned the Taliban’s new “Regulation on Separation of Spouses,” warning it could normalize child marriage and make it harder for women to escape forced unions. Religious Minority Pressure: A senior Shia cleric in Kabul says the Taliban has intensified pressure on Shia communities, including forced Hanafi conformity in education and refusal of meetings with Shia scholars. Sports Under Restriction: An Afghan woman from Herat, now a refugee in Australia, recounts how Taliban rule ended women’s cricket—then how she escaped after 15 attempts, keeping her dream alive through sport. Community & Culture in Exile: A report highlights how Afghan families resettled in Oklahoma still build daily life through education, legal support, and community networks like the Spero Project and local refugee coalitions. Migration Policy Backdrop: Coverage also notes UN calls for protection of Afghan women’s rights and equal access to education as Europe reviews Afghan migration policies. Media & Access: Separate reporting says the Taliban has continued tightening control over Afghan media, including closures of radio stations.

Women’s Rights & Education: UN Women renewed calls for protection of Afghan women’s rights and freedoms, urging the Taliban to ensure laws safeguard dignity, security, movement, and equal access to justice as restrictions on education and work deepen Afghanistan’s crisis. Menstrual Health: On World Menstrual Hygiene Day, Afghan girls and reports from Kabul and Faryab describe first-period fear, shame, and lack of hygiene products, with school closures and limited health support making the taboo harder to break. Public Health & Youth: Kabul residents warn about a booming market for intoxicating pills, saying poverty and hopelessness are driving addiction and that the trade is spreading across the city. Media & Culture: Afghan TikTok users in the Netherlands say TikTok Live has become a place for news and grief, but debates can quickly turn into hostility and ethnic division. Migration & Diplomacy: A report says the Taliban is seeking broader European diplomatic access in return for cooperation on deportations, raising concerns that Taliban-linked staff could gain control of embassies. Online Entertainment: Afghanistan’s PUBG and TikTok block orders are being bypassed via VPNs, while psychologists and educators warn excessive gaming can harm learning and mental health.

Women’s Rights & Education: UN Women urged Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate to protect women and girls from violence and discrimination, and to ensure equal access to justice and schooling as students like Beheshta warn that girls have been kept out of education for years. Child Marriage & Taliban Family Law: Reports say a new Taliban divorce decree effectively permits child marriage, with UN warnings that the rules could normalize marriages for girls before they choose. Eid & Returnees: Afghanistan’s prime minister used Eid al-Adha to call for support to returnees, flood and earthquake victims, and for officials to listen to public concerns while security forces stay vigilant. Security in the Provinces: In Panjshir, sources report a roadside blast targeting a Taliban vehicle, followed by arrests of a teacher and four students and a lockdown with house-to-house searches. Public Health & Daily Life: In Kabul, girls say low-quality and expired sanitary pads are being sold widely due to weak regulation and stigma around menstruation, pushing many to buy quickly and cheaply. Digital Rights: A cybersecurity report warns the Taliban’s “National Keyboard” app could enable surveillance and risks sensitive data exposure, especially for journalists and activists. Culture & Lifestyle: A new Afghan diaspora novel, No God but Us, explores queer love and displacement, set largely in Istanbul, bringing Afghan LGBTQ experiences into the spotlight.

Taliban Women’s Rights: UN Women warns Taliban Decree No. 18 could normalize child marriage and add hurdles for women seeking separation, after the decree was issued without a minimum marriage age. Digital Rights & Surveillance: Cybersecurity researchers say the Taliban-linked “National Keyboard” app may enable high-risk surveillance, including hardcoded AI access and text sent to external systems—raising concerns for journalists, activists, and women. Education & Advocacy: Former President Hamid Karzai used Eid al-Adha to renew calls for girls to return to schools and universities and for women to work, as Taliban restrictions keep education and employment tightly limited. Forced Marriage Crisis: Reports highlight forced marriage as a continuing threat to girls’ safety and futures, tied to poverty, family pressure, and violence. Everyday Life in Afghanistan: Ghazni residents demand reactivation of broken traffic lights, while remote Nimroz villages report deadly delays due to poor roads and lack of healthcare access. Economy & Hunger: The World Bank says Afghanistan’s economy is growing modestly but per-capita gains lag, with inflation rising and acute food insecurity worsening.