Shaheen Afridi gives cautious reply on Pakistan captaincy

Restrictions imposed on women and girls in Afghanistan have sharply reduced their participation in public life, with more than half of surveyed women saying they now leave their homes only once or twice a month, according to a new UN Women assessment. The findings were released as Afghanistan approaches the fifth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. UN Women said Afghanistan remains the only country where girls are barred from secondary education and women are prohibited from attending universities. The agency said the restrictions have increasingly affected women’s freedom of movement, education, employment and access to public life. More than half of the women surveyed reported leaving home no more than twice a month. Nearly three-quarters said they did not feel safe going outside without a male guardian, commonly referred to as a mahram. UN Women said the restrictions have also contributed to growing concerns about women’s mental health. Around seven out of 10 women surveyed described their mental health as either “bad” or “very bad”. Respondents cited social isolation, reduced opportunities and limited access to support networks among the factors affecting their wellbeing. The UN agency said Taliban authorities have introduced more than 100 decrees affecting women and girls since returning to power. It described the measures as creating a system of discrimination and said Afghanistan had become an extreme global example of restrictions on women’s rights. The Taliban maintain that their policies respect women’s rights under their interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan culture. Education remains heavily restricted The restrictions on education have affected millions of Afghan girls. UNESCO estimated that about 2.4 million girls have been prevented from attending secondary school since the Taliban returned to power. Women and girls have also been excluded from university education, limiting their opportunities to pursue professional careers and higher education. UN Women said recent measures had further weakened legal protections available to women. According to the agency, rules introduced this year reduced legal equality between men and women, strengthened the authority of men within marriage and created additional difficulties for women seeking divorce. Women largely excluded from workforce Economic participation remains another major challenge. UN Women reported that only about 7% of Afghan women are employed, compared with approximately 84% of men. The agency said the restrictions on education and employment were limiting women’s ability to earn income, develop careers and contribute to the country’s economy. The findings were based on a door-to-door survey involving 2,190 people conducted between February and March 2025. The agency also conducted telephone interviews with 2,811 people between April and May 2025. UN Women warned that continued restrictions could further isolate women and deepen the social and economic consequences of excluding half of Afghanistan’s population from public life. The Taliban government has not immediately responded to requests for comment on the latest findings.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has removed the country’s top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, in a major change to Ukraine’s military leadership as the war with Russia enters its fifth year. The decision comes during a difficult period for Ukraine, where fighting continues on several front lines and pressure is mounting on the government to improve military performance. General Syrskyi had been serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was responsible for leading the country’s military operations against Russian forces. President Zelensky announced that General Mykhailo Drapatyi will replace him as the new army chief. In his statement, Zelensky thanked Syrskyi for his service and praised Ukrainian soldiers for defending the country. However, he said Ukraine now needs a “reset” in military leadership to strengthen operations, improve coordination among commanders and address challenges related to troop mobilisation and battlefield management. The leadership change comes only a few days after Zelensky removed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov from office. That decision sparked public protests in the capital, Kyiv, with many people expressing concern about changes in the country’s defence leadership while the war is still ongoing. Who is Oleksandr Syrskyi? General Oleksandr Syrskyi is one of Ukraine’s most experienced military officers. He was born in Russia in 1965 when both Russia and Ukraine were part of the former Soviet Union. During his early military career, he served in Soviet forces before choosing to remain in Ukraine after it became an independent country in 1991. Over the years, Syrskyi rose through the ranks of the Ukrainian military. In 2014, he led Ukrainian forces during fighting against Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Syrskyi became one of the country’s most important military commanders. He played a leading role in defending the capital, Kyiv, from Russian attacks during the early weeks of the war. His leadership was widely praised, and he later received Ukraine’s highest national honour, the title of “Hero of Ukraine.” He was also credited with planning Ukraine’s successful counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region in 2022. During that operation, Ukrainian forces regained control of several key cities that had been occupied by Russian troops. Why was he removed? President Zelensky has not accused Syrskyi of any wrongdoing. Instead, he said the leadership change is aimed at improving Ukraine’s military strategy as the war continues. Reports suggest there had been disagreements within Ukraine’s defence leadership over military reforms, mobilisation policies and battlefield planning. Former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov had previously criticised Syrskyi, saying some reforms were progressing too slowly. The appointment of General Mykhailo Drapatyi is seen as an attempt to bring fresh leadership and improve cooperation between military commanders and government officials. Ukraine has changed several military leaders This is not the first time Ukraine has replaced senior defence officials since the war began. In September 2023, Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov left office after corruption allegations involving the defence ministry. In February 2024, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who was one of Ukraine’s most popular military commanders, was replaced by Syrskyi as commander-in-chief. Several other senior officers have also been reassigned as Ukraine continues to adjust its military leadership during the conflict. Russia has also changed its commanders Russia has also replaced several top military officials since launching its invasion of Ukraine. The commander of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet was removed after the sinking of the warship Moskva in 2022. Major General Ivan Popov was dismissed after publicly criticising Russia’s military strategy. General Sergey Surovikin, who once commanded Russia’s aerospace forces, was also removed following the failed Wagner Group rebellion in 2023. Why does this matter? Military leadership plays a crucial role in any war. Commanders make important decisions about troop movements, battlefield tactics, defence planning and military operations. Ukraine hopes the appointment of General Drapatyi will strengthen its armed forces at a time when Russia continues to launch attacks across different regions. The change also reflects Kyiv’s effort to improve military efficiency and prepare for future operations