Speaking at the Open Debate of the UN Security Council on Women and Peace and Security, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed on Thursday said that “collective action and solidarity” are crucial to support women in Afghanistan.

Amina said that in Afghanistan, “the regression of women's rights highlights the severe impact of excluding women from governance – and society altogether.”

“It is imperative that we reinforce our resolve to support women in Afghanistan and elsewhere, advocating for their rights, agency and inclusion at every opportunity,” she said.

Meanwhile, Sima Bahous, UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director, said that millions of Afghan women and girls are robbed of an education, a future, and a voice.

She, however, said that women have stepped up by opening schools in their homes.

This comes as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has repeatedly said that women and girls’ rights are ensured in the country according to Sharia.

Abdul Salam Hanafi, the administrative deputy of the Prime Minister of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), on Thursday met with a high-ranking delegation of Uzbekistan’s religious scholars in Kabul.

In the meeting, Mufti Nuruddin Khaliq Nazar, chairman of the Office of Muslims of Uzbekistan, who was heading the delegation, stated that the purpose of their trip to Afghanistan was to strengthen and develop relations between the two countries, saying that Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have religious, historical and cultural commonalities, and considering these commonalities, they can develop and expand their relations in various fields.

Meanwhile, the administrative deputy of the Prime Minister, Abdul Salam Hanafi, called the delegation's visit to Afghanistan a sign of friendship, close relations, neighborliness, and common interests between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.

Hanafi added that this trip will make it possible to establish new cooperation between the two countries based on commonalities and take effective steps to strengthen relations.

Khalilah Ali, wife of the late boxing great Mohammad Ali, arrived in Kabul on Thursday to build a sports stadium.

The General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports of Afghanistan said in a statement that the stadium will be named Pirozi (victory). Khalilah Ali will also establish a sports association named “Mohammad Ali”.

This is the third time that Khalilah Ali has visited Afghanistan.