A prominent member of the Taliban has publicly challenged the group’s leadership to lift the bans on education for women and girls, asserting that there are no valid reasons for the restrictions. Sher Abbas Stanikzai, who serves as the political deputy in the Foreign Ministry, delivered these remarks during a speech at a religious school ceremony in Khost province on Saturday.
During his address, Stanikzai emphasized that there is no justification for denying educational opportunities to women and girls, stating, “just as there was no justification for it in the past and there shouldn’t be one at all.” Currently, the Taliban government prohibits women from pursuing education after sixth grade, and reports from last September indicated that women were also barred from medical training and related courses.
In Afghanistan, women and girls are required to seek medical services from female healthcare professionals. However, the Taliban has not officially acknowledged the ban on medical training for women. Stanikzai expressed urgency in his appeal, stating, “We call on the leadership again to open the doors of education,” and noted that it is unfair to deprive 20 million people of their rights. He highlighted that such actions are not supported by Islamic law but stem from personal biases or choices within the regime.
Notably, Stanikzai has been involved in significant Taliban negotiations, including those that resulted in the complete withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan. This is not his first call for educational rights for women; he made similar statements in September 2022, a year after girls’ schools were closed, and prior to the university ban being enacted. However, this latest statement marks a more direct appeal to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada for a policy change.
Ibraheem Bahiss, an analyst from the Crisis Group’s South Asia program, observed that Stanikzai has made past assertions about the necessity of girls’ education but emphasized that this recent statement emphasizes a public demand for a shift in policy and publicly questions the legitimacy of the existing educational bans.
In a related context, Malala Yousafzai, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, urged Muslim leaders to confront the Taliban regarding women’s and girls’ education during a conference in Islamabad, organized by notable organizations such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The United Nations has warned that international recognition of the Taliban remains nearly impossible if bans on female education and employment continue, alongside restrictions on women’s movement without a male guardian.
While no country has formally recognized the Taliban as the legitimate authority of Afghanistan, nations such as Russia are fostering relationships with the group. Furthermore, India is also enhancing its diplomatic ties with Afghan leaders. A recent meeting in Dubai between India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Mistri and Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi highlighted a significant step towards strengthening bilateral cooperation.
