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The Pakistani government has ordered Afghan medical and dental students to return home and halted the admission of new Afghan students, sparking concern from the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad. The decision, made by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC), has thrown a wrench into the academic journeys of many Afghan students who have invested years of their lives, time and money into their studies.
The Afghan Embassy emphasized that these students, who began their education through legal means, are now completing their programs and urged Pakistani authorities and international bodies to uphold their academic rights. The PM&DC instructed medical and dental institutions to compel Afghan nationals already enrolled to return to Afghanistan and complete all necessary formalities, including obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
This move also includes a ban on admitting, transferring, or facilitating the entry of Afghan nationals during the ongoing academic session until further notice. As the diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the Taliban government have soured, the decision has further strained these ties. Former Pakistan ambassador to Afghanistan, Mansoor Ahmad Khan, urged the PM&DC to reconsider the decision, advocating for fairness and considering the long-standing cultural and historical bonds between the two nations.
Asif Durrani, Pakistan's former Special Representative for Afghanistan, called the decision "shocking," particularly alarming for young women who are already facing educational restrictions under the Taliban regime. Amnesty International South Asia termed the PM&DC's order "patently discriminatory and arbitrary," highlighting the severe impact on female students who have already faced barriers to higher education in Afghanistan due to the Taliban's stringent gender policies.
The humanitarian rights organization urged Pakistan to adopt a more compassionate and practical approach, allowing these students to finish their medical education before returning to Afghanistan.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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