Taliban Envoy in Islamabad Raises Concerns Over Afghan Students’ Struggles in Pakistan
On October 23, the Taliban’s ambassador to Islamabad met with the president of the International Islamic University Islamabad to voice growing concerns over the difficulties faced by Afghan students in Pakistan.
M. Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, the Taliban’s political representative, expressed appreciation for the university’s academic cooperation with Afghan students, describing it as a symbol of solidarity among Islamic nations. He also discussed efforts to establish an International Islamic University in Kabul and called for the expansion of academic and research collaboration between the two institutions.
During the meeting, Shakeeb highlighted several major issues affecting Afghan students in Pakistan, including the expiration of residency documents, difficulties in renewing student visas, financial hardships, and reductions in scholarship opportunities. He warned that these problems are seriously disrupting the students’ education.
Dr. Ahmed Saad Al-Ahmad, president of the International Islamic University Islamabad, responded positively to the concerns and pledged to raise the issues with the university’s administration. He also voiced support for strengthening ties between universities in Kabul and Islamabad.
The meeting comes as the Taliban administration, despite lacking international recognition, continues to claim representation of the Afghan people and seeks to build ties with foreign academic institutions. Meanwhile, millions of Afghans, particularly students in neighboring countries, face widespread legal, financial, and educational challenges.
