The Journal of Natural Sciences is a peer-reviewed academic publication committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in the research dissemination process. This statement outlines the expected ethical conduct of all parties involved, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.

Ethical Guidelines for Publication

Publishing an article in a peer-reviewed journal is a crucial step in advancing scientific knowledge. It reflects the quality of the authors' work and the institutions supporting them. Peer-reviewed articles uphold the principles of the scientific method, making it imperative to establish ethical standards for all stakeholders involved in the publication process: authors, editors, reviewers, publishers, and the broader academic community.

The publisher of JNS, Kabul University, is dedicated to maintaining the highest ethical standards and recognizes its responsibilities throughout the publishing process. JNS is committed to ensuring that commercial interests, such as advertising or reprints, do not influence editorial decisions. The Editorial Board will collaborate with other journals and publishers when necessary to facilitate effective communication.

Publication Decisions

The JNS Editor is responsible for deciding which submitted articles should be published, guided by the journal's editorial policies and legal requirements regarding libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism. Editorial decisions are based solely on the intellectual merit, validity, and relevance of the work, without regard to the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnicity, citizenship, or political affiliations.

Confidentiality and Conflicts of Interest

Editors and editorial staff must maintain confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts, disclosing information only to the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, and the publisher, as appropriate. Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used for the editors' own research without the authors' express written consent. Editors and reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their decision-making.

Duties of Editors

Editors evaluate manuscripts solely based on their academic merit, originality, validity, clarity, and relevance to the journal's scope. The Editor-in-Chief has the final authority over the editorial content and publication schedule. Editors and staff maintain confidentiality throughout the review process, and all submitted articles undergo peer review by at least two subject matter experts.

Duties of Reviewers

Peer review assists editors in making informed editorial decisions and provides authors with constructive feedback to improve their work. Reviewers must conduct reviews objectively, avoiding personal criticism and expressing their views clearly with supporting arguments. They should identify relevant published works not cited by the authors and alert editors to any substantial similarities with other publications. Reviewers must maintain confidentiality, avoid conflicts of interest, and refrain from using privileged information for personal gain.

Duties of Authors

Authors must present an accurate and objective account of their work, including sufficient details and references to allow replication. Underlying data should be represented accurately, and fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements are unacceptable. Authors should be prepared to provide public access to raw data, if practicable, and retain such data for a reasonable period after publication.

Authors must ensure the originality of their work and properly cite or quote any use of others' work. They should not submit the same manuscript concurrently to multiple journals, constituting unethical publishing behavior. Proper acknowledgment of sources and contributions from others is essential.

Authorship should be limited to those who have made substantial contributions to the research, and all co-authors must approve the final version and agree to its submission. Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, sources of financial support, and any hazards or ethical concerns related to human or animal subjects.

If authors discover significant errors in their published work, they are obligated to promptly notify the editor and cooperate in retracting or correcting the paper.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Conflicts of interest may arise when the research and publication processes are influenced by external factors, such as financial interests, personal relationships, or academic pursuits, potentially compromising objectivity and integrity. JNS firmly believes in maintaining transparency and avoiding conflicts of interest whenever possible.

All participants in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, and editors, must disclose any potential conflicts of interest. If the research study or manuscript preparation was supported by grants or financial assistance, the relevant details must be specified in the manuscript.

Editors may consider the disclosed information when making editorial decisions. The corresponding author is responsible for notifying the editor of any conflicts of interest during submission or indicating the absence of such conflicts.

Plagiarism Screening

All submitted articles will undergo plagiarism screening using appropriate software (e.g., Turnitin) to ensure the originality and integrity of the published content.