Sun Jan 19 08:33:34 UTC 2025: ## Top Taliban Official Urges End to Afghan Women’s Education Ban
**Kabul, Afghanistan –** A senior Taliban official has publicly urged the group’s leader to lift the ban on education for Afghan women and girls, marking a rare internal rebuke of the government’s policy. Sher Abbas Stanikzai, the political deputy at the Foreign Ministry, delivered a speech on Saturday at a religious school in Khost province, stating that there is no religious or logical justification for denying education to women. He directly appealed to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada to overturn the ban, which has prevented girls from attending school beyond the sixth grade and has reportedly extended to medical training for women.
Stanikzai’s statement, shared via his X account, highlights the injustice inflicted upon millions of Afghan women and girls. While he has previously expressed support for women’s education, this marks the first time he has directly called for a policy change. Analysts note that his public appeal is a significant development, signaling a potential shift within the Taliban leadership.
The ban has drawn widespread international condemnation, with the United Nations calling the exclusion of girls from high schools “shameful.” The UN has also stated that recognition of the Taliban government is unlikely as long as these restrictions remain in place. Despite this, some countries, including Russia, are building ties with the Taliban regime. India, too, has been engaging with Afghan authorities, with a recent high-level meeting indicating deepening cooperation. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai recently echoed international concerns, urging Muslim leaders to challenge the Taliban on this issue. The future of girls’ education in Afghanistan remains uncertain.
First Piper 