There are many differences between Syria and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), Syria's de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has said.

In an interview with the BBC in Damascus, Sharaa denied that he wanted to turn Syria into a version of Afghanistan.

Sharaa said the countries were very different, with different traditions. Afghanistan was a tribal society. In Syria, he said, there was a different mindset.

“Afghanistan is a tribal community. Syria is completely different. The people just don’t think in the same way. The Syrian government and the ruling system will be in line with Syria’s history and culture,” he said.

He said he believed in education for women.

“When it comes to women’s education, of course. We have had universities in Idlib for more than eight years. I think the percentage of women in universities is more than 60 percent.

"We've had universities in Idlib for more than eight years," Sharaa said, referring to Syria's north-western province that has been held by rebels since 2011.

"I think the percentage of women in universities is more than 60%."

Asked whether the consumption of alcohol would be allowed, Sharaa said: "There are many things I just don't have the right to talk about because they are legal issues."

He added that there would be a "Syrian committee of legal experts to write a constitution. They will decide. And any ruler or president will have to follow the law".

The Islamic Emirate has not yet commented on Ahmad al-Sharaa’s remarks on Afghanistan.

The remarks come as girls above the sixth grade have been denied the right to education for more than three years and universities are also closed to women.

Reports suggest that the leadership of the Islamic Emirate has also recently decided to close medical institutes to girls.

Two late-night traffic accidents in southeastern Afghanistan left at least 52 people dead and more than 65 injured, the Islamic Emirate confirmed early Thursday. 

The accidents on Wednesday night happened in Ghazni province. Both accidents involved buses and one involved a fuel tanker. 

According to a statement issued by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) said: "It is with great regret that we learned that two fatal traffic accidents occurred on the Kabul-Kandahar highway, as a result of which 52 of our compatriots were martyred and 65 others were injured."

The Islamic Emirate has directed the relevant directorate’s to investigate the two accidents to determine the exact cause of both. 

The Directorate of Information and Culture of Ghazni province meanwhile said in a statement that 47 people had died and 73 others were injured in the accidents. 

The directorate stated that the injured had been taken to hospital; some of whom were in a critical condition. 

One accident involved a passenger bus and a fuel tanker and the other involved a passenger bus and truck.

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the political deputy minister of foreign affairs, says media outlets should be supported in a way that there is no distance between them and the government.

Stanikzai, speaking at a seminar titled "The Role of Media in Strengthening the Islamic System" in Kabul, added that the media plays a crucial role in global propaganda wars, and it is necessary for the IEA to cease exerting pressure on the country's media and allow them to freely play their role in the development and prosperity of the country.

"The problems of the media should be heard, their voices should be heard, and the environment should be conducive for them to carry out their work freely,” he stated.

He further emphasized that the views towards the country's media should be such that both sides do not view each other as strangers, and the IEA should refrain from exerting pressure on the media and allow them to operate with freedom.

Meanwhile, officials from the Ministry of Information and Culture also stated at the seminar that they have not adopted an approach of confrontation with the media and that the ministry is committed to collaborating with them.

Participants in the seminar also urged the media to spare no effort in reflecting a positive image of Afghanistan to the world.

This seminar was held at a time the media considers itself committed to freedom of expression and reporting activities within the framework of national interests and Islamic values.