Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), met with Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Sadiq Khan, to discuss the ongoing situation in Afghanistan and the international community’s response to the country’s humanitarian needs.
Khan said on X that the meeting took place on the sidelines of the Summit on Girls’ Education held in Islamabad. “Had a fruitful discussion focused on the current situation in Afghanistan and the international community’s efforts regarding humanitarian needs,” he wrote.
The summit, attended by officials from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and representatives from several countries, centered on the challenges facing education for girls in the region. According to Pakistani officials, the Taliban were invited to participate in the conference but declined to attend.
The meeting and summit come amid growing global concern over severe restrictions on education for women and girls in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Since their return to power in 2021, the Taliban have closed schools for girls beyond grade six and banned female students from attending universities, effectively barring millions from pursuing education.
