Iran, Russia agree on reducing tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan: Araqchi

The British government has criticised US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth for downplaying the contributions of NATO allies to combat operations in Afghanistan, saying his remarks diminish the sacrifices made by British and other allied forces.

The UK government said the contributions of the UK and NATO forces in Afghanistan were well documented, stressing that thousands of British and allied families had made significant sacrifices during the war.

“Their sacrifice and that of other NATO forces was made in the service of collective security and in response to an attack on our ally,” a spokesperson for the British prime minister said, adding that it was wrong to diminish their role.

The spokesperson noted that more than 450 British military personnel had died in Afghanistan and said their service and sacrifice would never be forgotten.

Hegseth, who served as an instructor with the Minnesota Army National Guard in Afghanistan, made the remarks in a speech on Saturday. He said that although 50 countries were represented at the NATO-led coalition headquarters in Kabul, only a small number had participated in combat operations.

He jokingly described the acronym ISAF, referring to the International Security Assistance Force, as meaning “I Saw Americans Fighting”, arguing that the mission had placed a disproportionate burden on US forces.

Nearly 2,500 US service members died during the Afghanistan war, while military personnel from more than 30 other countries also lost their lives, including 457 British troops.

The UK’s response echoed Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s criticism of US President Donald Trump in January, after Trump suggested that NATO troops had stayed away from the front lines in Afghanistan. Starmer described those remarks as “insulting and frankly appalling” and called for an apology.

The European Union has condemned human rights violations and gender-based discrimination by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), calling for an end to restrictions on women and girls, particularly the ban on education beyond Grade 6.

In a statement delivered at UNESCO’s 225th Executive Board meeting on October 19, the EU expressed alarm over the continued deterioration of women’s and girls’ rights in Afghanistan in 2026.

The bloc said Afghanistan remains the only country where girls are prohibited from attending public education beyond Grade 6, a restriction affecting more than 2.2 million girls. It called for the unconditional reversal of the policies.

The EU also welcomed UNESCO’s efforts to provide alternative learning opportunities for Afghan women and girls, while stressing that these initiatives cannot replace formal, inclusive and quality education.

In 2025, the EU and UNESCO launched a €4.7 million partnership aimed at promoting economic empowerment through community-based skills development and literacy training in Afghanistan.

IEA spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has previously said that education for girls above Grade 6 remains under review and that the government is working to resolve the issue.

The EU meanwhile also reaffirmed its support for independent Afghan media, civil society organisations and human rights defenders, particularly those working to protect women’s rights, despite the risks and restrictions they face.

It highlighted EU-backed UNESCO initiatives focused on media and information literacy, documentary heritage, freedom of expression and the safety of journalists.

The statement further raised concerns over threats to Afghanistan’s cultural heritage, illegal archaeological excavations, the illicit trafficking of cultural goods and the safety and livelihoods of cultural professionals, particularly women.

The EU commended UNESCO’s work in Afghanistan and welcomed the extension of the United Nations Strategic Framework for Afghanistan until 2030, emphasising the UN’s continued role in the country.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to providing financial support for UNESCO’s activities in Afghanistan, including programmes aimed at education, cultural preservation, media freedom and the protection of fundamental rights.

European governments are stepping up engagement with Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate (IEA) authorities over the deportation of migrants, economic assistance and diplomatic representation, despite continuing to withhold formal recognition of the administration, France 24 reports.

The report draws on an investigation by Elian Peltier, The New York Times’ Pakistan and Afghanistan bureau chief, who says European officials are meeting IEA representatives more frequently than is widely known.

The growing contacts highlight the tension between Europe’s official policy of non-recognition and its practical efforts to address migration and other issues involving Afghanistan.

However, the prospect of returning Afghan migrants has raised concerns among United Nations experts and human rights organisations, which have warned about the risks of deportation under IEA rule, particularly given restrictions on fundamental rights.

Afghanistan’s persistent economic crisis adds to these concerns, with limited employment opportunities, widespread hardship and difficulties accessing basic necessities potentially leaving returnees struggling to rebuild their lives.

The developments underscore the challenge facing European governments as they seek to manage migration while weighing humanitarian concerns and the conditions awaiting deportees in Afghanistan.