Former president Hamid Karzai has welcomed the holding of a conference on girls’ education in Muslim countries in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, calling education the undeniable right of girls.
The two-day international conference, initiated by the Muslim World League (MWL), and hosted by Pakistan, concluded on Sunday.
The conference ended with a strong emphasis on girls’ education. Its declaration urged unified efforts to protect girls’ right to education, highlighting the pivotal role educated women play in building stable families and societies.
The press office of Hamid Karzai stated that he welcomed the final declaration of the MWL conference in Islamabad, titled “Girls Education in Muslim Countries: Opportunities and Challenges.”
Karzai described girls’ education as an undeniable and absolute right, viewing its denial as unjustifiable and contrary to national interests.
He stressed constructive and vital role of women and girls in the country’s development, societal stability, and family welfare. Karzai renewed his call on the Taliban to reopen schools and universities for girls.
Karzai further stated that ensuring educational opportunities for all young people would reduce forced emigration and enable Afghanistan to advance towards self-sufficiency by leveraging the talent and knowledge of its citizens.
The caretaker government officials have not commented on the girls’ education conference in Islamabad so far.
Soon after returning to power in 2021, Taliban banned girls above the sixth grade from going to schools and then extended the ban to university education.
Both domestic and international parties have urged the Taliban to lift the restrictions on girls’ education.
Taliban has repeatedly said the ban is temporary and girls will be allowed to study once a suitable environment is created.
kk/ma
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