Afghanistan

"It is as short-sighted as it is appalling," she said. Bahous called on the Taliban-run administration to immediately restore the full rights of women and girls, which include the right to education, as well as to work and to participate in public life, reports Xinhua news agency.

Background discussions with the people dealing with the matter told The Express Tribune that despite apparent friction in ties with Kabul, Pakistan has no option but to seek engagement with the Afghan Taliban regime. The incidents of the last few weeks have put Pakistan's relationship with the Afghan Taliban in jeopardy, The Express Tribune reported.

A letter issued by the regime's Education Ministry on Tuesday said the decision, which will further restrict women's access to formal education, was taken at a cabinet meeting and the order will go into effect immediately, reports CNN.Meanwhile, the Minister for Higher Education said that the suspension will remain until further notice.

According to local administration, the border area is being evacuated after clashes and an emergency has been declared in DHQ Chaman, Geo News reported. Medical Superintendent Dr Malik Achakzai said that at least 12 people are under treatment at the health facility.

While there are differences between Pakistan and Afghanistan on the Durand issue, which has led to several casualties in the past and could emerge as a major threat to peace in the region, the Afghans consider the Pakistanis playing a game of 'duplicity' with Kabul on various fronts.

The injured people and bodies have been moved to the hospital. The police and Rangers have cordoned off the area, Samaa TV reported. Pakistan reported on Saturday that its counterterrorism forces had intercepted 4 ISKP militants close to the Afghan border in an isolated mountainous region and killed them, Khaama Press reported.

The government has firmed up its numbers of currency smuggling from Pakistan into Afghanistan and now intelligence agencies, including the ISI, the FIA and the Customs Intelligence, have been directed to come up with a roadmap next week for launching stern action against the smugglers, The News reported.

Marrying their girls off also provides some sense of security: fewer mouths to feed at a time when Afghan girls have been banned from attending school and face harassment as the country deals with a humanitarian crisis and economic ruin, said the RFE/RL report.

The Chaman border   known as Friendship Gate   was closed after unidentified armed men opened fire on the Pakistani security troops from inside Afghanistan, killing a soldier and injuring another two on Sunday, Geo News reported. All business and trade activities at the Chaman border remained suspended for the fifth day.

According to the Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, the "obligatory" order came after Akhundzada had a meeting with a group of judges on Sunday, the BBC reported.