Due to the Trump administration's significant cuts to foreign aid, the scholarships for over 80 Afghan women studying in Oman under U.S. funding were terminated last month. Currently, they have received a temporary reprieve, offering a moment of relief from their uncertain situation.
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03-20, 2025A U.S. State Department spokesperson told the BBC that the related funding will continue until June 30, 2025. One student, speaking anonymously to the BBC, said, "This is good news, and we are very grateful. But I hope we can find a permanent solution." The student chose to remain anonymous due to fears of reprisal, highlighting the precariousness of their situation.
These women fled Taliban-ruled Afghanistan to continue their education. However, the sudden freezing of funds from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) put them at risk of being deported back to their home country. Since regaining power nearly four years ago, the Taliban has imposed severe restrictions on women, including banning them from universities, severely limiting their opportunities.
These students in Oman are pursuing postgraduate and postdoctoral degrees, with the program falling under the "Women's Scholarship Endowment" (WSE), a USAID initiative launched in 2018 to fund studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. On February 28, they were informed that their scholarships were ending and that they would be repatriated to Afghanistan within two weeks, triggering "shock and tears," underscoring the devastating impact of the news.
One student stated, "We feel relieved now, but we are still deeply concerned about our future. If the scholarship is not renewed, we will have no choice but to return to Afghanistan, where we cannot study, and our safety may be threatened." The U.S. government has not yet responded to the BBC's inquiries about when a final decision will be made. The BBC has also contacted the Omani government to inquire whether it is seeking alternative funding, demonstrating the breadth of efforts to find a solution.
The Afghan Taliban government has stated that it has been working to address the issue of women's education, but has also defended its supreme leader's orders, claiming that these orders are "in accordance with Islamic law." The Taliban has suppressed women protesting for education and work, with many activists being beaten, detained, and threatened. Women in Afghanistan have described themselves as "living dead" under the regime's policies, illustrating the dire conditions they face.
Prior to the funding extension, a WSE staff member told the BBC that they were urgently "looking for alternative sources of funding." The staff member called the situation "dangerous and devastating" and warned that these students could face persecution and forced marriage upon their return to Afghanistan. Most of these women are in their 20s and qualified for the scholarships in 2021, before the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan. Many continued to study at Afghan universities until December 2022, when the Taliban banned women from higher education.
After experiencing 18 months of turmoil, they stated that they fled to Pakistan last September. Subsequently, USAID assisted them in obtaining visas to Oman, and they arrived in Oman between October and November 2024. The decision to cut U.S. aid was made during the Trump administration and is being implemented by Elon Musk's government efficiency division, highlighting the complex political factors involved.
