Image: AI-generated Author: Mursal Qaisari In a world full of sorrow and discrimination, where we girls grow up, having a supportive father is not only a blessing but a miracle. I am one of those lucky daughters who experienced this miracle in her life. My father not only did not restrict me, but he gave me wings to fly. I was raised in a Pashtun family in Afghanistan, and I have five elder sisters and one younger brother. In a society like Afghanistan, when a family has only daughters and no sons, heavy looks and judgments always follow. People in my country believe that having a son is a kind of honor and a guarantee of the family’s future. When a father does not have a son, many pressure him to remarry so that he can have one and continue his family name. Before my brother was born, my father experienced the same situation, he had six daughters and no son. Many people would say, “Why doesn’t he remarry? Doesn’t he want a son who will take care of him one day?” Although my brother was born two years after me and I did not hear such things myself, my mother and sisters often told me about those times. But my father never had such wrong thoughts. Even though he held a respected position in our city and could have easily remarried, he never considered it. He never saw us as less capable or less valuable than boys. Instead, he believed that we had the same ability and worth that any son could have. Since my childhood, the only things I received from him were love, care, and endless support. In a society where some fathers restrict their daughters to stay at home or marry at an early age, my father always encouraged us to chase our dreams and pursue education. That is why all four of my elder sisters have graduated from university, and I am now studying in Pakistan with one of my sisters. He always wanted us to get what we truly deserve. He never told me, “You can’t do it because you are a girl.” Instead, he gave me courage, love, and support. He always believed in me and provided the opportunities I needed to reach my dreams. This vision of my father, in a society that often sees women as less valuable than men, was like a light for me. He is the one who proved to me that good men still exist men who do not ignore their daughters, men who, instead of remarrying and breaking their family’s hearts, give value to the family they already have. My sisters and I were raised by such a man. When conditions in Afghanistan became too difficult for living and studying, he tried hard to get me out of the country so that I could live in a safer environment, a place where I could learn, live peacefully, and freely pursue my dreams. It was not an easy decision for him, because in our culture it is a big issue when a young girl travels alone to another country. But he never paid attention to such barriers. Eventually, he brought me to Pakistan to continue my education. This sacrifice shows that he is not just my father; he is the hero of my life. When I look back at the path I have walked, I realize that it would have been impossible without him. Although I have always had the full support of my mother and sisters, in Afghanistan every major decision for a daughter belongs to her father. If he had not supported me, I would also have been trapped between restrictions and silent walls. But he never wanted me or any of my sisters to be prisoners of tradition. My father taught me that the value of a girl lies in her abilities, not in the opinion of others. He showed me through his actions that respect for women is not just a slogan, it can be reflected in a man’s behavior, in his choices, and in his fatherly love. His support gave me such power and confidence that nothing can take them away from me. I wish all Afghan girls had a father like mine. I wish all fathers would give their daughters wings to fly, rather than limiting them. Then maybe our world would become a better place, maybe being a girl would no longer feel so hard. With every step I take and every decision I make, I know I am not alone. There is a man standing by my side who has built bridges for me instead of barriers. He taught me that a father can also be a friend. For me, he is not just a father but my whole world. He is the answer to all those who say that good men are rare. I say no, good men still exist, men who remain loyal to their wives and give wings to their daughters to fly. I wrote this piece about my own father, a man who proved to me that being a girl is not a shame or a crime, but a pride. He showed me that having six daughters and only one son was never a lack for him, but a blessing. Today, I want to convey a message to all Afghan fathers: Having a daughter is a pride. Your daughters are as valuable as your sons. They carry your name with honor and dignity. If a father, like mine, believes in his daughter, that girl can even change the world. I hope the story of my life inspires Afghan fathers to love and support their daughters more. I hope for a day when all fathers believe in their daughters, support them, and never consider them a burden or a disgrace. I hope they understand that a daughter can build the future of her family, and even her country, shoulder to shoulder with a son, and sometimes even more.

Photo by Eric Bridiers The UN Secretary-General has warned that the systematic exclusion of women and girls from public life in Afghanistan is continuing at a rapid pace, accompanied by severe restrictions on education, employment, healthcare, and access to justice. Antonio Guterres made these remarks on Monday (October 6) during a United Nations Security Council meeting focused on “Women, Peace, and Security,” saying: “In Afghanistan, the systematic erasure of women and girls from public life is in overdrive, with appalling restrictions in accessing education, employment, healthcare and justice, and surges in sexual violence and maternal mortality.” He stressed that the international community must take coordinated and urgent action to support Afghan women and girls and to end their systematic oppression. He also referred to the situation of women in crisis-hit areas such as the Palestinian Territories, Sudan, Haiti, and Myanmar, saying that women in these countries also face violence, displacement, and widespread discrimination. Guterres added that currently more than 676 million women and girls live near conflict zones — the highest number in decades — and the rate of sexual violence against them has increased by 35 percent. These remarks come as the Taliban, since returning to power, have imposed unprecedented restrictions on women and girls, depriving them of education, employment, and social participation. Human rights organizations have described these policies as a form of “gender apartheid” that has plunged the future of Afghan women and girls into darkness.

Photo: SkyNews Sky News has reported that the child malnutrition crisis in Badakhshan province has reached a point where one child dies every three days. According to the report, published on Tuesday (October 7), 53 children have died at the Badakhshan public hospital since the beginning of this year. This figure represents a 50 percent increase compared to last year. Doctors at the Badakhshan public hospital have warned that the number of child deaths is rising. Sky News, citing UN agencies, said that the nutritional situation across Afghanistan has worsened, with 4.7 million women and children in urgent need of treatment for malnutrition. The report also states that 90 percent of children under the age of five in Afghanistan live in food poverty. Daniel Timme, a UNICEF spokesperson, said: “The nutrition situation of children in Afghanistan is extremely serious. More than 3.5 million children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition, including 1.4 million children who are severely wasted.” Meanwhile, today the Taliban also announced in Panjshir province that nearly six thousand women and children there are suffering from malnutrition; an indication of the expanding hunger crisis across the country.

GoogleImage Social media users in Afghanistan have reported that access to the social media platform Instagram has been blocked in the country. Local sources told Zan News on Tuesday (October 7) that they can only access the platform using a VPN. The sudden blockade has sparked widespread reactions among users. Some local sources and online users say the move may be part of the Taliban’s new restrictions on the media and efforts to control the flow of information. While access to Facebook and a number of other platforms had previously been disrupted, Instagram has now been added to the list of restricted networks in Afghanistan. Many users are concerned that this action is part of the Taliban’s new policy to limit freedom of expression and tighten control over the digital space in the country. The Taliban have not yet provided any explanation for the reason behind this restriction.

Photo: Getty Images via BBC The Taliban’s Department of Information and Culture in Panjshir has announced that nearly six thousand women and children in this province are suffering from malnutrition. According to the department’s statement, 5,925 cases of malnutrition have been recorded in Panjshir during the first six months of the current year. Dr. Hijatullah Mohammadi, the Taliban’s Director of Public Health in the province, said that among these cases, 4,244 children and 1,681 pregnant women have been affected by severe or moderate malnutrition. He stated that so far 3,639 children have been treated, while the rest are under medical care. Mohammadi added that pregnant women are also receiving treatment through 35 health centers in the Rokha, Anaba, and central districts of Panjshir. He emphasized that the Panjshir Public Health Department, in cooperation with the Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is working to prevent further deterioration of the situation. These figures are released as international organizations continue to warn about the worsening hunger and malnutrition crisis across Afghanistan. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 15 million people in the country are facing acute food insecurity. UNICEF also estimates that in 2025, more than 875,000 children and 650,000 women across Afghanistan will require immediate treatment for severe malnutrition.

Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, says that despite the Taliban’s severe repression and restrictions, Afghan women still hope that one day they will achieve their dreams. Bahous made these remarks on Monday (October 6) during a United Nations Security Council meeting focused on “Women, Peace, and Security,” stating: “Their hope is not an idle wish, and it is more than a coping mechanism. It is a political statement. A conviction. An inspiration.” She added that according to findings by UN Women, 92 percent of Afghans, including men, support girls’ access to education. The Executive Director of UN Women warned that global funding cuts threaten educational opportunities for Afghan girls. She called for urgent investment in women-centered institutions and for ensuring women’s participation in decision-making processes and peace negotiations. The Security Council meeting, titled “Women Lead, Peace Follows,” focused on the role of women in building peace in conflict-affected countries from Afghanistan to Gaza and Sudan. Bahous’s remarks came a day after the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution establishing an independent accountability mechanism in Afghanistan; a body mandated to document human rights violations by the Taliban and refer the perpetrators to international courts.

Social Media Local sources in Kunduz province say that the Taliban have once again cut off fiber-optic internet in this province. According to the sources, access to the internet was halted without any explanation from the Taliban on Monday evening (October 6). Residents of Kunduz, expressing concern, say that this action has disrupted people’s daily activities in economic, educational, cultural, and artistic sectors and has cut off their communication with other parts of the country and the world. The repeated internet shutdowns by the Taliban in various provinces have become a recurring pattern; an action many describe as an attempt to prevent protests, control information, and silence any opposing voices.

Photo: Reuters via VOANews Local sources in Herat province say that on Friday (October 3), forces of the Taliban’s Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice arrested a female doctor because of her dress code on the 64-meter road in the city of Herat. One of the doctor’s relatives, who did not want to be named for security reasons, told Zan News: “The staff of the Department for the Promotion of Virtue first told her why part of her hair was visible. The doctor responded that this matter does not concern you. The Taliban left the area but returned half an hour later with a Ranger vehicle and arrested her. She is currently in prison.” This incident comes as the Taliban have recently, as part of their restrictive policies against women, also arrested a number of female bloggers, civil activists, and other women active in social spheres. Human rights activists say such actions by the Taliban are part of a targeted plan to systematically eliminate women from public life and silence their social presence.

Photo: AP via VOANews Local sources in Herat province say that a journalist has been arrested by the Taliban’s Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice forces. According to one of the sources, the journalist was detained on Monday morning (October 6) around 11 a.m. while preparing a video report in the Mis-garan’ market of Herat city. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said that Taliban forces cited the reason for his arrest as “publishing images of living beings.” Over the past four years, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on media freedom, particularly on visual reporting and the publication of images of living creatures, an action repeatedly condemned by domestic and international organizations.

Image: UN Photo/Elma Okic The United Nations Human Rights Council, by adopting a resolution, announced the establishment of an independent mechanism to ensure accountability and investigate widespread human rights violations in Afghanistan. The Council adopted the resolution on Monday (October 6) during a session, without a vote and without opposition from any country. According to the resolution, the new mechanism is tasked with collecting and documenting evidence related to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious human rights violations, identifying the perpetrators of these crimes, and preparing case files that can be used in national and international courts for prosecution. The resolution was proposed by the European Union to the Human Rights Council and was adopted with broad support from various countries. This move has been described as an important step toward ending impunity for perpetrators of crimes in Afghanistan. Human Rights Watch welcomed the adoption of the resolution, calling it “a historic step toward justice for Afghan victims.” Fereshtah Abbasi, a researcher at the organization, said: “It is crucial for the new mechanism to begin work as soon as possible so that it can start collecting and preserving evidence and preparing case files on those responsible for international crimes in Afghanistan.” According to Human Rights Watch, the scope of the investigation will not be limited to the Taliban but will also cover human rights violations committed by former government officials, warlords, and foreign forces. The organization emphasized that the new mechanism will focus on documenting widespread violations of the rights of women and girls, including their deprivation of education and work. The adoption of this resolution comes four years after the Taliban’s return to power, while Afghanistan continues to witness the systematic suppression of women, media, and widespread human rights violations.