Rights Groups Condemn Pakistan’s Decision to Remove Afghan Medical Students
Rights Groups Condemn Pakistan’s Decision to Remove Afghan Medical Students
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Pakistan’s reported decision to cancel the enrollment of Afghan students in medical and dental programs and return them to Afghanistan has sparked criticism from international organizations and concerns over the educational future of hundreds of students.
The move, which comes amid rising political tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, has drawn condemnation from human rights advocates who say it could have serious humanitarian and educational consequences.
According to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, Amnesty International described the decision by the Pakistan Medical Commission as “discriminatory and arbitrary” and called for its immediate reversal.
The rights organization warned that Afghan female students would be among those most affected, as many women and girls in Afghanistan have already been barred from higher education under Taliban restrictions.
The decision has also prompted criticism from Pakistani political figures, including a former ambassador to Kabul, who urged authorities to reconsider the measure on humanitarian grounds. They highlighted the importance of maintaining educational ties with Afghanistan and the country’s urgent need for trained medical professionals, particularly female doctors.
Advocates have called on Pakistan to protect the rights of Afghan students and seek solutions that allow them to continue their studies while addressing legal and political concerns between the two countries.
