To: [Respected Officials of the University]
Greetings,
We hope this message finds all esteemed professors and instructors in good health and high spirits. We kindly request your attention to the following important matters regarding your academic works (research, writing, and publications):
1) Please ensure that all laws, regulations, statutes, and guidelines of our country related to your academic works (research, writing, and publications) are meticulously followed and fully respected. Avoid any biases based on political, linguistic, religious, ethnic, or organizational affiliations. Uphold the integrity of our educational system and refrain from any actions that could undermine its foundations.
2) Use national terminology in your academic works (research, writing, and publications), including legal, judicial, student-related, university-related, cultural, and educational terms, rather than borrowing excessively from other languages and terminologies and don't use the words (in Persian) Danishgah/University, Dadstani/Athorny Office, Danshjoo/Student, Dadgah/Court. This approach promotes national cohesion, public understanding, and academic clarity within our scholarly community.

3) Properly cite the names of our national and religious figures (such as Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani, Sultan Mahmood Ghaznawi, Ahmad Shah Baba, etc.) in your works and ensure complete recognition and respect for their contributions. Any misuse or misattribution in academic contexts will be the responsibility of the author, editor, translator, reviewer, publisher, or head of department.

4) Given our country's multilingual context, ensure that you communicate and teach in both official languages (Pashto and Dari). Every professor and academic staff member is obliged to write, publish, lecture, and teach in both official languages (Pashto and Dari) as required. Pashto subjects should be taught in Pashto, and Dari subjects in Dari. This principle must be strictly adhered to in all academic writings, lectures, and instructions.

Furthermore, every professor is responsible for arranging their academic promotions and ensuring that their academic works (research, writing, and publications) are formatted and presented in their chosen official language (Pashto and Dari). Promotions will not be processed without adherence to these principles.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Hamidullah Mazmul
Head of Research, Writing, and Publications Department

A directive from the Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education instructs university heads and academic staff across Afghanistan to avoid using Persian-origin terms such as danishgah (university), dadgah (court), and danishjoo (student), mandating the use of Taliban-approved “national language equivalents.” It also prohibits any content critical of Taliban principles in academic writing, research, and translations.

These restrictions are part of a broader effort to ideologically reengineer Afghanistan’s higher education system by enforcing linguistic nationalism, ideological conformity, and historical revisionism. Professors are warned that violations could jeopardize promotions and academic standing, placing further pressure on already-silenced academic voices