She added that the Taliban’s actions have undermined prospects for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan

A copy of the directive, dated December 8, has been shared with university staff, sources said.

“The systematic violation of cultural rights in Afghanistan under the Taliban is an attack on the soul of the nation,”.

Moscow views militant groups across a region stretching from Afghanistan to the Middle East as a critical security threat.

This comes amid reports from the UN indicating a 30 percent increase in opium production in Afghanistan this year.

The result of regimes built on force and pressure is always the same," Stanikzai said.

"We do have the ability to engage with organizations that have been designated,” he said.

Bennett also reiterated a core principle of the UN’s human rights mission: “Human rights are non-negotiable.”

This comes amid widespread restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women's education, employment, and public participation.

Mr. Bennett called the ban a significant threat to the nation’s healthcare system.