KABUL, Afghanistan — Scholarships to Russian universities for Afghan students have been canceled for the second consecutive year, following interference by the Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education, according to affected students.
The scholarships, which included 500 slots for Afghan students, had moved into their implementation phase after results were announced in May 2024. Many students traveled to Kabul, incurring significant expenses for required procedures, including HIV tests and document submissions, according to students who spoke to Amu.
However, on Thursday, the head of the Russian House of Science and Culture at the Russian Embassy in Kabul informed a group of 15 student representatives that the scholarships had been canceled due to Taliban restrictions.
“Our hopes and expectations have turned into a nightmare,” said one student, expressing deep disappointment. “After so much effort, all we’re left with is an uncertain future and despair.”
The students have appealed to the international community to intervene and help reinstate the scholarships. They claim the Taliban fears that studying in Russia might negatively influence the students’ religious beliefs.
Last year, the Taliban confiscated passports from 500 male students, preventing them from traveling to Russia. Although some managed to travel through Iran, that option has reportedly been blocked this year by the Russian cultural center in Kabul.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education and the Russian Embassy in Kabul have not issued official statements on the matter. The move comes as the Taliban continues to restrict educational opportunities, barring women from schools and universities and now further limiting access to higher education for male students through international scholarships.
The cancellation highlights the growing challenges faced by Afghan students under Taliban rule, as restrictions tighten on opportunities for education both at home and abroad.
