Pakistan Opens Universities to Afghan Students, Especially Women

Programs at Khyber Medical University in Peshawar and Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan aim to train medical personnel to assist Afghanistan's war-ravaged population, with particular focus on training women

Pakistani universities are opening their doors to Afghan students, especially to female ones, with the aim of training medical personnel to be able to assist the war-ravaged Afghan population.

Khyber Medical University in Peshawar and Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan, both in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwestern Pakistan, are offering the programs to Afghan students.

The decision was made at a special meeting last week called at the request of the Afghan Consulate General in Peshawar. Presided over by Prof. Dr Zia Ul Haq, vice-chancellor of Khyber Medical University, the meeting was attended by Afghan Deputy Consulate General Mufti Noor Ullah Hotak and other Afghan officials.

The meeting was told that with Afghanistan in a state of conflict for over four decades, infrastructure has been decimated and a large segment of the population has been left maimed and disabled. Health care is difficult to obtain and disabled people face a shortage of physiotherapists, among other needs.

The purpose of this decision is to assist in the availability of trained medical personnel to deal with the health problems of a war-torn Afghanistan

Ul Haq assured the Afghan officials that the university would welcome the admission of Afghan students in all its programs, including physiotherapy and pharmaceutical sciences, and would facilitate their admission.

“The purpose of this decision is to assist in the availability of trained medical personnel to deal with the health problems of a war-torn Afghanistan,” university spokesman Alamgir Khan told The Media Line.

“We have decided to charge Afghan students the same fee as Pakistani students in all programs, including medical and dental. For the first time, admission has been made available to Afghan students, particularly female students, who may take advantage of this chance. We have not allocated any quota for admission. All incoming Afghan students will be admitted. Our offer is for all Afghan students, whether they are in Pakistan or living in Afghanistan.”

Before the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the country had been making great progress in girls’ education, with over 100,000 women enrolled in universities in 2020. However, the Taliban quickly banned girls from education beyond sixth grade and imposed other restrictions on women and girls, in moves met with widespread world condemnation, including from the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, and other Muslim countries.

At last week’s meeting, Hotak claimed that the ban on female education in Afghanistan was propaganda, and said the curriculum was being revised and that once the process was complete, the doors would be opened for female education.

Khan confirmed that “the institution acted at the request of Afghan authorities, whose delegation had visited us. It was a matter of pleasure that Afghan officials expressed their endorsement, particularly for female higher education. The Afghan delegation had a really optimistic and adaptable attitude toward female education. At the request of Afghan officials, a Khyber Medical University campus will be established in Kabul [the Afghan capital] and they have pledged their full support in this regard.”

Meanwhile, Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan announced that it would grant fully funded scholarships to 50 deserving Afghan women.

“For the next educational year, we will provide more scholarships to Afghan female students. Female students can also enroll themselves online through the university’s website,” Dr. Shaista Irshad, the university’s finance director, told The Media Line.

A delegation from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held meetings with the Taliban’s education and higher education ministers in Kabul last week, advocating for the broad inclusion of both boys and girls in all levels of education and academic disciplines.

“The delegation was briefed on the Taliban’s ongoing efforts to revise the educational curriculum and create a ‘safe environment’ favorable to girls’ education throughout Afghanistan. The delegation reiterated that OIC member nations are willing to provide whatever assistance is needed to achieve these educational goals,” the OIC said in a statement.

“The right to education is a fundamental human right applicable to all individuals, regardless of gender. This finds recognition both within the United States and the broader international community,” Dr. Azeem Khalid, an international relations expert and an assistant professor at COMSATS University in Islamabad, told The Media Line. COMSATS is hosting numerous Afghan students sponsored by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.

This new initiative is especially commendable, given the formidable barriers confronting Afghan women and girls in their pursuit of higher education

“In the past, the United States has commendably invested in educating Afghan women, thereby significantly contributing to their empowerment. Now it is heartening to witness the proactive measures Pakistan and Afghanistan are already undertaking,” Khalid said.

“Pakistani authorities actively supported thousands of Afghan male students. However, the number of female students never remained encouraging. This new initiative is especially commendable, given the formidable barriers confronting Afghan women and girls in their pursuit of higher education.”

Khalid continued, “It’s crucial to recognize the challenges faced by Afghan refugees aspiring to study in Pakistani universities. Financial constraints and international student status pose significant hurdles, further exacerbated by the complexities of obtaining necessary admission documentation. Pakistan should consider expanding educational opportunities for Afghan refugees, ensuring they can access higher education alongside their Afghan counterparts from Afghanistan.”

Helena Kakar, an Afghan women’s rights activist now living in the United States, told The Media Line: “For the past two years, the Taliban’s erratic policies in Afghanistan have harmed women, who are half of Afghanistan’s population. The Taliban, for unfamiliar reasons, have banned women and girls from all social activities, including girls’ access to education. In such a situation, helping Afghan women and girls, especially in terms of education, is a highly commendable step, and I am sure that other neighboring countries including Pakistan will take more steps for the education of Afghan girls.”

Kakar also said, “These countries should also put diplomatic pressure on the Taliban to open closed girls’ educational institutions within the country so Afghan females can study only by staying in their homeland. Offering scholarships to Afghan girls is an alternative option. Something is better than nothing. Surprisingly, the Taliban will allow girls to go to Pakistan for higher education, but these girls are banned from studying in their own country.”

This initiative aligns with the vision of a stable, prosperous, and educated Afghanistan, ultimately contributing to regional security and development

Salman Javed, an Islamabad-based political analyst and the director general of the Pak Afghan Youth Forum, told The Media Line, “The decision by universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to welcome Afghan students, especially girls, vividly illustrates that education can play a pivotal role in the lives of Afghan youth. Education equips the youth with the tools to shape their nation’s future, and this initiative places those very tools in the hands of Afghan students.”

Javed said, “This initiative aligns with the vision of a stable, prosperous, and educated Afghanistan, ultimately contributing to regional security and development. There have been statements suggesting that efforts are underway to develop a new curriculum and eventually enable the continuation of education for girls. However, the situation surrounding girls’ education in Afghanistan has been marked by uncertainty. The unfortunate manipulation of girls’ education for political purposes is a stark reality. It reminds us of the pressing need for unwavering support for education especially for Afghan girls, and the importance of ensuring that educational opportunities are not mere pawns in a larger political game.

Marzia Alizadey, an Afghan migrant now in Quetta, Pakistan, told The Media Line: “Due to lack of passports, identity, travel, and educational documents, Afghan students were not allowed to get admission in any higher education institute, but now with the commencement of admission in Khyber Medical University and Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, we will be able to continue our incomplete education. Scores of educated families are still fleeing Afghanistan due to the various sanctions by the Taliban government.”