Taliban Official Calls for Lifting Education Ban on Afghan Women and Girls

In a surprising turn of events, a high-ranking Taliban official has spoken out against the group’s ban on education for Afghan women and girls. Sher Abbas Stanikzai, the political deputy at the Foreign Ministry, made these remarks at a religious school ceremony in southeastern Khost province. He argued that there is no valid reason to deny education to half the population, emphasizing the injustice it causes. The Taliban has blocked females from education beyond the sixth grade and reportedly halted medical training for women, which is crucial as women can only be treated by female doctors in Afghanistan.Stanikzai’s call for change is not new; he has previously advocated for girls' education. However, this time, he directly addressed Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, urging a policy change. Analysts see this as a significant shift from his earlier statements. Meanwhile, international organizations and figures like Malala Yousafzai have been pushing for the same cause. Despite this, no country officially recognizes the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate rulers, though some nations, like Russia and India, are building ties.