Embassy of the country in Islamabad: We condemn the expulsion of Afghan medical students

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Kabul: The Embassy of the country in Islamabad, in a statement, expressed deep concern and condemned the decision of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to cancel the registration and expel Afghan medical students.

 

In this statement, a copy of which was made available to AVA, the embassy stated that the decision of the Pakistan Medical Council to expel Afghan students is a "clear violation of human rights" and is in conflict with humanitarian principles and international standards. The embassy stressed that education, science and human relations should be kept safe from political disputes and that educational opportunities should not be affected by political developments and disputes.

 

Based on the directive issued by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) under the title “Urgent Urgency”, the council has ordered all universities and medical colleges in the country to prohibit the admission, transfer and any transfer of Afghan students in the fields of medicine and dentistry for the current academic year and all Afghan students who have already registered in these fields have been asked to return to the country.

 

Noting that this decision could cause irreparable damage to the educational future of students who are on the verge of graduation, the country’s embassy in Islamabad has called on Pakistani educational institutions and international organizations to cooperate in protecting the educational rights of Afghan students so that they can continue and complete their education without interruption.

 

Reactions and Dimensions of the Issue

The decision of the Pakistan Medical Council has led to widespread reactions at the national and international levels. Amnesty International has called the decision “discriminatory and arbitrary” and has warned of its consequences, especially for female students who have been deprived of education due to harassment in the country.

 

Khalid Zadran, spokesman for the Kabul Police Command, also described the action as “vindictive and cruel” and said that such a move would pose a problem for the academic future of these students. Also, Asif Durrani, former Pakistani Special Representative for the Interior, called the expulsion of Afghan medical students “shocking” and called on the Pakistani government to reverse the decision.

 

According to news sources, between 800 and 2,500 Afghan students are studying in the fields of medicine and dentistry in Pakistani public and private universities. The order comes as relations between Islamabad and Kabul have become increasingly tense in recent months, with Pakistan stepping up its deportation and expulsion of its citizens.

 

According to news sources, a separate letter sent by the Allama Iqbal Medical University in Lahore to Afghan students gave them until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, to finalize their administrative and settlement matters.

 

It is worth noting that part of the directive states that all students must comply with this decision; otherwise, they will face legal action. Although the reason for this action is not explained in the letter, it is emphasized that this decision was taken within the framework of Pakistan’s national priorities.

 

According to political and legal experts, the decision of the Pakistan Medical Council to expel Afghan students was taken in the continuation of the process of escalating pressure on the country’s citizens and in the context of political tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.