UN warns over Pakistan move to expel Afghan medical students
UN experts have expressed concern over a fresh order by Pakistani authorities to expel Afghan students from medical and dental education institutions, saying the move would have more severe consequences for women students because Taliban restrictions in Afghanistan have closed off avenues for higher education and medical training.
In a statement on Friday, Sept. 27, the experts said at least 100 Afghan students, including 20 to 40 women, have been affected by the decision. They warned that expelling these students could deprive them of the opportunity to continue their studies and gain qualifications in the medical and dental fields.
The statement stressed that the impact of the decision on Afghan women is more severe because the Taliban administration has banned higher education and medical training for women in Afghanistan. Based on this assessment, returning these students could effectively bar them from continuing specialised education.
Pakistan has intensified the process of returning Afghans from the country in recent months. The UN experts’ warning was also raised in this context and focused on the impact of the move on Afghan students’ access to education.
Pakistan is considered one of the main destinations for some Afghan students’ education, especially in medical fields, a matter that has gained greater importance in the wake of the Taliban administration’s educational restrictions on women.
