The results of Salam Watandar interview with 42 participants (21 men and 21 women) from 16 provinces of Afghanistan show that most respondents define whether a woman is good or bad not on the basis of gender, but rather on human personality traits. At the same time, 14 participants consider respect for and obedience to one’s husband to be the primary criteria for a “good woman.”
Officials at the Nangarhar Directorate of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock say that in the 22 districts of province, several check dams have been constructed to feed water sources and deliver water to agricultural lands, with work ongoing on additional dams. According to the officials, these check dams are built to improve water management, prevent soil erosion, and reduce damages caused by floods—measures that ultimately help protect farmland from destruction.
“My mother always told me to marry the man she chose. She said I had to accept, otherwise people would gossip about us. When the suitor came, my parents met him themselves. My father said, ‘What does the girl need to do? We have seen him and his family. It would be shameful—what will people say?’ They never realized he was addicted to drugs. I am not satisfied, and my father sacrificed me for the sake of customs and people’s opinions because I could not meet the boy before the engagement.” she says.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Afghanistan has announced that Japan has contributed USD 2 million to the organization.
A team of young developers has designed the “Bulbul” app, making religious, educational, artistic, and novel books available in audio format, especially for young people and children. The creators of this app told Salam Watandar that users can, by downloading the program, listen to books even while working, driving, or performing daily activities, and use it to increase their knowledge and skills.
Ghazni is one of the provinces where most residents are engaged in agriculture and livestock farming, and their livelihoods largely depend on these activities. The spread of animal diseases and their transmission among livestock in this province sometimes create serious challenges for farmers—challenges that, if not addressed in time, can lead to significant and irreversible economic losses.
“A student is psychologically placed in two arenas: one is the field of work and the other is the field of education. Certainly, prioritizing between the two can be difficult. Afghan society is a poor society, and the priorities of young people are more economy-centered. Therefore, over time the field of education may become colder and emptier, and the studies of working youth may decline in quality and be damaged,” he says.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned they would block all oil shipments from the Middle East if U.S. and Israeli attacks continue. According to Reuters, the Revolutionary
A number of doctors in Kabul told Salam Watandar that chromosomal disorders are among the leading causes of miscarriage — an issue that doctors describe as a silent risk for pregnant women.
Asma, a 33-year-old resident of Kabul, says that although she covers most of the household expenses, she still faces physical violence—violence that has caused both psychological and physical harm. She says, “I cover about 90% of the household expenses and all the needs of my daughters. Yet I have been repeatedly beaten by my husband—slapped, punched, and kicked. The violence was so severe that my last vertebra was damaged, and now I cannot sit or stand properly. My husband beats me and asks why I do not put money in his pocket. This is extremely humiliating and painful because, even with financial independence, I still face violence.”
On International Women’s Day, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) highlighted that women and girls in Afghanistan are entitled to equal access to rights, justice, and opportunities, and called for these rights to be safeguarded.
Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said on the occasion of International Women’s Day that women hold only 64% of the legal rights enjoyed by men.
