In his speech to university students in Balkh during his visit to the northern province, the Taliban Minister of Higher Education—who had previously served as the Taliban governor for Kabul—announced that AUAF has been renamed AIU, which will only offer postgraduate programs, reports Khaama Press.

The university was established in 2006.

It was the country's first private liberal arts university with internationally standardized academic programs and standards.

AUAF provides an MBA program, four undergraduate degree programs, pre-college training (Academy), and training for continuing education and career development, the Professional Development Institute (PDI) program, Khaama Press reported.

The AUAF shut down in Afghanistan in August of last year when the Taliban took control of the country. Students were sent to Bard College in the US, the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), and the American University of Iraq Sulaimani (AUIS), said Omar Sadr, a former professor of the AUAF.