Society

Taliban Announces 'Ban' On WHO, Red Cross Amid Vaccination Drive

The Taliban has announced a “ban” on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in areas the extremist group controls in Afghanistan.

Pink Buses For Female Pakistani Students

A new bus service has been launched in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province with the aim of encouraging more women to attend local colleges. The pink, women-only buses each have a conductor and police guard. The Japanese government and UN Women are supporting the project, which will provide low-co

India's Bollywood Plays Starring Role In Modi's Re-election Bid

Amnesty International: Global Executions Fell By One-Third In 2018 With Declines In Pakistan, Iran

The number of known judicial executions around the world declined by nearly one-third in 2018 compared to 2017, reaching the lowest level in at least a decade, Amnesty International says in its annual report on death sentences and executions.

Toll From Land Mines Rises Sharply In Afghanistan

Samiullah, a 12-year-old from Faryab Province, lost both legs in a land mine explosion while carrying water to help his family. He's just one of thousands of Afghan mine victims, and their numbers are rising steeply as the conflict with Taliban militants drags on.

Karachi Revitalization Drive Aims To Remake Pakistan's Largest City

The modernization of Karachi's old downtown is one of a string of projects aimed at revitalizing Pakistan's largest city and economic powerhouse, which has long been plagued by traffic congestion, water and electricity shortages and rampant crime.

Female Activists Chart New Course In Pakistan’s Conservative Pashtun Belt

Female activists in Pakistan’s western Pashtun belt are playing a vital role in a movement demanding security and rights for a conservative region where women have been traditionally absent from public and political life.

Pakistan Urged To 'Immediately' Tackle Enforced Disappearances

Amnesty International has urged the Pakistani government to ensure that "all measures are taken" to immediately end the practice of enforced disappearance, which it said has long stained the country's human rights record.

Job Seekers Complain Of Rampant Sexual Harassment In Afghan Province

Women job seekers in a restive Afghan province have reported widespread sexual harassment that has forced them to abandon their search for employment.

Cutouts Standing Up For Women In Afghan Peace Talks

A group of Afghan artists have put up cardboard cutouts of leading Afghan women across the country in support of women's rights amid ongoing peace talks between Taliban militants and the U.S. government. They say women's freedoms must be protected as part of any future peace deal.

In A First, Tehran Honors Beleaguered Afghan Community

For the first time, Tehran city officials have honored the contribution of Afghan migrants, many of whom work menial jobs and face widespread discrimination in the country.