Taliban Officials Represent Afghanistan at ECO Library Summit in Turkey
Afghanistan participated in the seventh meeting of the heads of libraries from member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), held in Turkey. Rafiullah Samim, head of public libraries at the Taliban-run Ministry of Information and Culture, represented Afghanistan and provided an overview of the current state of the country’s libraries.
According to the Ministry of Information and Culture, Samim shared his views on the present condition of public libraries, the claimed achievements during the Taliban’s administration, and existing challenges in the sector. His remarks came despite many cultural and educational projects in Afghanistan facing severe restrictions following the fall of the previous republic government.
Representatives from 10 Asian countries at the summit discussed the expansion of digital archives, preservation of historical and rare works, and the exchange of professional experiences and capacities among cultural institutions. The ministry announced that Afghanistan’s public libraries have joined specialized committees focusing on digitization, education, and research.
Turkey has also agreed to provide a library management system called “Kaşif” to Afghanistan free of charge. However, it remains unclear how this system will be implemented, given that many Afghan libraries lack basic resources and digital infrastructure.
On the sidelines of the summit, the Afghan head of public libraries held meetings with his counterparts from Uzbekistan, Turkey, Iran, and Kazakhstan to explore possibilities for joint cooperation.
Additionally, the Afghan delegation presented several books as gifts to other participants at the summit. This gesture comes at a time when libraries inside Afghanistan are grappling with a severe shortage of books and professional staff.
Despite its presence at international events, the Taliban administration has yet to provide clear answers to the cultural and educational needs of Afghan citizens, with many knowledge institutions continuing to face pressure and operational restrictions.
