Kabul: Sher Abbas Stanikzai, a senior Taliban official, called for the lifting of education restrictions on Afghan women and girls in a speech at a religious school in Khost province on Saturday. As the political deputy at the Foreign Ministry, Stanikzai said that there was no justifiable reason to deny women access to education.
Under the current Taliban regime, women education has been limited to only the first six years. Reports from September indicated a halt to medical training and courses for women, but Afghan authorities have not officially confirmed these claims, according to the AP news agency.
Women’s rights under threat
The healthcare sector in Afghanistan relies on women medical professionals to treat women and girls. In a video shared on his official X account, Stanikzai said that restricting the rights of women contradicts Islamic law, framing the ban as stemming from personal biases rather than religious doctrine.
Previously involved in Taliban negotiations for the withdrawal of foreign troops, Stanikzai has long advocated for women’s education. His recent statement marks the first time he has directly appealed to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada for a shift in policy.
Crisis Group analyst Ibraheem Bahiss said that while Stanikzai has consistently supported girls’ education, this recent statement more directly challenges the legitimacy of the Taliban’s current policies. At a recent conference in Islamabad, Malala Yousafzai urged Muslim leaders to hold the Taliban accountable on the issue of women education.
Taliban’s international standing
The United Nations has stressed that international recognition of the Taliban government remains unlikely as long as restrictions on women’s rights to education, employment and movement are in place. While no country has officially recognised the Taliban’s government, many are working to establish diplomatic ties. Russia has strengthened its relationship with the group and India continues to engage with Afghan authorities, as highlighted by the recent meeting between Indian diplomat Vikram Mistri and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai.
