Amid mounting pressure on prestigious private universities and the arbitrary closure of several higher education institutions by the Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education, fresh investigative findings have come to light.
Reports from independent media sources indicate that senior members and officials of the ruling group—who previously held power without formal academic credentials and solely through militant backgrounds—are now maneuvering to secure university degrees.
According to the details, these officials are leveraging their administrative dominance to force private institutions into granting them academic certificates.
This systematic push comes at a time when the higher education sector is facing severe restrictions, financial strain, and systemic closures under the de facto administration.
Critics and academic observers point out a profound hypocrisy within the leadership’s approach.
While ordinary students face tightening ideological constraints, bans, and institutional instability, those in power are utilizing their official positions for personal academic enrichment.
This trend further undermines the credibility of higher learning in the country, transforming educational institutions into tools for credential laundering for the ruling elite.