Hamid Karzai, the former president of Afghanistan, said in recent remarks that the continuation of the ban on girls’ education and the ongoing closure of schools and universities to them will weaken national capacity, increase severe need, and lead Afghanistan toward dependence on foreign countries.

Karzai said in a statement: “While I consider universal education vital, I once again emphasize that the doors of schools and universities must be opened to girls as soon as possible. By providing opportunities for education and learning to young people—both girls and boys—the country’s problems and needs can be resolved by the capable hands of its own children, and Afghanistan can be freed from external dependence.”

Karzai made these remarks in response to a recent report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). According to the report, by 2030 Afghanistan will face a shortage of more than 20,000 teachers and over 5,000 female healthcare workers, and the number of girls deprived of education will exceed two million.

Richard Lindsay, the British Special Representative for Afghanistan, has announced that strengthening and expanding relations between London and Kabul depends on concrete actions by the authorities of the Islamic Emirate.

Lindsay stressed in a press conference in Kabul that Britain wants to develop bilateral relations with Afghanistan, but this process will not be possible without practical steps by the Afghan rulers.

He said that a stronger relationship would help Afghanistan’s future prosperity.

The British diplomat also welcomed the recent talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan and expressed hope that these efforts would lead to a reduction in tensions between the two countries. He encouraged the sides to return to dialogue and diplomacy.

Lindsay warned that the continued closure of border crossings has disrupted the process of humanitarian assistance. According to him, about one million people in the border areas are in urgent need of assistance. He added that Britain has allocated 150 million pounds this year to support the health, food and education sectors in Afghanistan.

He also emphasized the importance of the rights of women and girls and said that without their participation, Afghanistan’s economic growth will not be possible.

Lindsay noted that Britain has resettled more than 38,000 Afghan citizens since 2021, but there are currently no plans to reopen the Afghan embassy in London.

Austria will sign an agreement with Uzbekistan next month to facilitate deportations, including the return of Afghan nationals via the Central Asian country, Austria’s Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.

The move comes as several European Union member states explore partnerships outside the bloc to manage deportations and establish so-called “return hubs” for failed asylum seekers as part of broader efforts to curb irregular migration.

While EU institutions continue negotiating the legal framework for such arrangements, a group of countries — including Denmark, Austria, Greece, Germany and Netherlands — announced in March that they would proceed with planning and coordination.

According to a government statement, Austria’s interior and foreign ministers are scheduled to travel to Uzbekistan on 7 May to formally sign the agreement.

Interior Ministry spokesman Markus Haindl said the deal would provide an important transit route for people facing deportation to their countries of origin, “especially Afghanistan.”

Austria has already deported several Afghan nationals since last year, signalling a policy shift following the Islamic Emirate takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.

Vienna has also resumed returns of Syrian nationals after the fall of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in 2024.

The European Union is currently developing broader plans to increase deportations of migrants without legal status in the bloc, including possible returns to Afghanistan, despite warnings from rights groups and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.