Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has reiterated his call for the interim government to immediately reopen schools and universities for girls, emphasizing the critical importance of female education for Afghanistan’s future.
In a statement on Monday, Karzai welcomed the recent declaration by the Muslim World League conference in Islamabad, which highlighted the need to address barriers to girls’ education across the Islamic world. He urged the Taliban to align their policies with these principles, stressing that education is a fundamental right and an essential pillar for national progress.
“Education is an unquestionable and inalienable right for Afghan girls,” Karzai said. “Preventing them from attending school contradicts the national interests and higher objectives of our country.”
Karzai warned that the continued exclusion of girls from education harms Afghanistan’s national interests and jeopardizes its long-term stability. He expressed concern over the growing exodus of Afghans seeking opportunities abroad, driven by the bleak prospects for the country’s youth.
“By denying girls education, we are undermining the stability of society, the strength of families, and the development of the country,” he said.
The Taliban have imposed a nationwide ban on women and girls attending secondary schools and universities, as well as participating in medical education and working in non-governmental organizations. The policy has drawn widespread criticism from the international community and Afghan citizens alike.
Karzai’s latest appeal underscores his ongoing efforts to advocate for the restoration of girls’ education and the empowerment of Afghanistan’s youth as essential to building a self-reliant and prosperous nation.
