In the early hours of the morning, the rugged hills surrounding Peshawar begin to glow in the soft light of the rising sun. Inside a modest refugee home, 20-year-old Zahra, an Afghan refugee, sits on the edge of a small bed with her textbooks scattered before her. The flickering candlelight casts a warm glow on her focused face, and despite the harsh realities of war and displacement, her determination remains unshaken. She dreams of becoming a civil engineer, a dream she once thought impossible.
Zahra’s story is one of many. A thousand miles away from the safety of her homeland, she is not just pursuing an education; she is carrying the hopes of her entire family. Zahra is one of the 21,430 Afghan students—16,120 young men and 5,310 women—who applied for Pakistan’s Allama Iqbal Scholarship in 2025. For Zahra, this scholarship is more than just a chance to study at a prestigious institution in Pakistan; it is her escape from the cycles of poverty and conflict that have haunted her homeland for decades. It is her ticket to a future that had once seemed beyond reach.
A Legacy of Solidarity
The Allama Iqbal Scholarship Program was established in 2009 as a gesture of solidarity between Pakistan and Afghanistan. At a time when Afghanistan was mired in the aftermath of war, Pakistan extended a lifeline to Afghan youth by offering fully funded education at its top universities. This gesture, named after the great philosopher-poet Allama Iqbal, who envisioned a united Muslim world built on knowledge and understanding, was a bold statement: education, not violence, would pave the way for a better future.
Since then, the program has evolved into one of the most successful and enduring initiatives aimed at building bridges of hope across borders. More than 2,500 graduates have emerged from the program, now making contributions in fields such as engineering, medicine, and education. In 2025, 900 new scholars were selected, with over 700 pursuing PhD programs, demonstrating the program’s continued success in nurturing the next generation of leaders.
Zahra, now studying at NUST (National University of Sciences and Technology) in Islamabad, reflects on her journey: “This scholarship is not just an academic opportunity; it is my path to defy the limitations that have been imposed on women in my country. Education is my weapon of choice.”
Breaking Barriers: Women, Peace, and Progress
Perhaps the most profound impact of the Allama Iqbal Scholarship has been on Afghan women, for whom education is not just a personal ambition but a quiet act of defiance in the face of oppressive forces. In Afghanistan, where 80% of girls are denied education under the current Taliban regime, the Allama Iqbal Scholarship represents a radical challenge to the status quo.
Zahra is not alone in her mission. She is part of a growing community of Afghan women who, despite the systemic barriers in their country, have seized the opportunity to study abroad and return home as doctors, engineers, and educators—ready to contribute to the rebuilding of Afghanistan. “In my country, women are told their place is in the home,” Zahra says, her voice steady with resolve. “But through this scholarship, I have learned that my place is in the world, making a difference.”
The impact of these women cannot be overstated. Each year, hundreds of Afghan women graduate, bringing their knowledge and skills back to Afghanistan. They are rewriting the narrative of what it means to be a woman in a country where education for girls is often seen as an act of resistance. In the words of Dr. Sayed Kamil, an Afghan surgeon and Allama Iqbal scholarship alum, “Pakistan didn’t just give me a degree; it gave me the tools to serve my people. I now lead a clinic in Kabul, helping those who need it the most.”
The scholarship is also a tool for regional diplomacy. Once a country viewed with suspicion by its neighbors, Pakistan has, through this initiative, become a beacon of hope and a symbol of peaceful cooperation. As Pakistani scholar Salman Javed notes, “These students are not just beneficiaries of the scholarship; they are the best ambassadors of peace. They are the bridge between nations, the future of our region.”
The Ripple Effect
What began as a simple educational initiative has now become a cornerstone of regional stability. The Allama Iqbal Scholarship is not just about giving Afghan youth an opportunity to study in Pakistan; it is about creating an intellectual exchange that fosters peace, understanding, and cooperation. These young scholars return to Afghanistan with new skills and ideas, not only to rebuild their country but to bridge the gap between two nations that have been historically divided by conflict.
Omar Sharifi, a Kabul-based analyst, explains, “Educated youth are not the ones who pick up guns. They are the ones who look for solutions through dialogue. This scholarship is not just a means of education; it is a peacebuilding tool.”
The impact of the scholarship has extended beyond classrooms. Afghan and Pakistani students have collaborated in humanitarian missions, providing aid in regions devastated by natural disasters. In 2024, following the earthquake in northern Pakistan, Afghan medical students, many of whom were Allama Iqbal scholars, joined their Pakistani counterparts in providing emergency relief.
Yet, as with all initiatives, challenges remain. Bureaucratic hurdles and visa delays continue to impede the smooth flow of students across the border, while cultural shocks still affect students who come from rural Afghanistan and struggle to adjust to life in Pakistan’s urban campuses. Moreover, political tensions between the two countries occasionally disrupt academic schedules, as border closures hinder student movement.
Cross-Border Knowledge Exchange
Despite these obstacles, the Allama Iqbal Scholarship reflects a larger, ancient tradition of cross-border intellectual exchange. This tradition echoes the ideals of the Silk Road Scholars, whose institutions of learning drew students from across the world to exchange ideas, fostering an era of knowledge and prosperity. Today, Pakistan and Afghanistan continue this legacy by building bridges of understanding and intellectual cooperation.
The scholarship also represents a quiet counter-narrative to the region’s cycles of conflict. As students from both countries collaborate in classrooms and research projects, they challenge the idea that division and discord must define the region’s future. Instead, they show that education can unite, heal, and build stronger, more resilient communities.
As Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani said, “The ink of scholars is holier than the blood of martyrs. This is our jihad against ignorance.” In this age of political turmoil and division, the Allama Iqbal Scholarship stands as a powerful reminder that the true battle for peace is fought not on battlefields, but in classrooms.
Also See: AIG Allows Education of Afghan Women in Pakistan: A New Era of Cooperation
The Road Ahead: Expanding Impact
As we look to the future, the Allama Iqbal Scholarship must continue to evolve and expand its impact. Experts suggest several ways to build on its success:
- Digital Inclusion: With many Afghan girls still barred from attending physical classrooms, offering online courses could be a game-changer. Virtual classes and mentorship programs would provide Afghan women with the education they deserve, regardless of their geographic location.
- Alumni Networks: Connecting alumni across regions can create a network of professionals dedicated to rebuilding Afghanistan’s infrastructure, particularly in the medical, engineering, and educational sectors.
- Private Sector Partnerships: Pakistani businesses could take a more active role in sponsoring internships and job placements for Afghan graduates, ensuring that they are able to contribute to Afghanistan’s recovery.
A Legacy of Hope
As Zahra prepares to return home, she reflects on the journey that lies ahead. She holds in her hands a tattered copy of Allama Iqbal’s poetry, a gift from her father. “You carry our dreams now,” he told her before she left. Zahra, like so many Afghan students before her, is on the cusp of something extraordinary. Her education in Pakistan is not just about acquiring knowledge; it is about changing the course of history.
As the sun rises over the Khyber Pass, a new generation of students crosses—not with weapons, but with textbooks. Their lesson is simple: education is the most powerful tool for peace. And through quiet resilience and a commitment to learning, young scholars like Zahra are proving that the greatest walls can be torn down not by force, but by the enduring power of hope and education.
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
— Malcolm X
Why This Matters:
- 2.5 million Afghan girls are still out of school (UNICEF).
- 45% of Afghan scholarship recipients at Shaukat Khanum Hospital return to their homeland as doctors.
- $5.5 million+ invested by Pakistan in Afghan education since 2009.
(Source: Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2025)
