ISLAMABAD:
The Taliban regime’s ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan will take center stage when delegates from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meet in Islamabad on January 11-12 to discuss female education around the world. Muslim.
The conference, titled “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities”, is a Saudi-backed initiative proposed by Rabta Islami, which Pakistan agreed to host, officials confirmed.
So far, around 30 ministers from OIC member states have confirmed their participation in the two-day event.
While the detailed agenda of the conference remains under wraps, sources revealed to The Express PAkGazette that one of its main objectives is to put pressure on Afghanistan’s interim Taliban government to reconsider its ban on girls’ education.
The Taliban returned to power in August 2021 in a dramatic power grab, as the Afghan government, led by then-president Ashraf Ghani, collapsed without resistance.
Despite initial promises of reform, the second Taliban regime quickly imposed a ban on female education.
Initially seen as a temporary measure, many expected schools to reopen after the winter holidays. However, rather than reversing the policy, the hardline government tightened restrictions on girls’ education, reducing any prospect of gaining international recognition.
Despite persistent demands from the global community and the Muslim world, the Taliban government remains defiant and recently expanded the ban to include medical education for girls.
The ban is part of a broader code of life decreed by Taliban chief Hibatullah Akhundzada, who considers female education to be against Shariah.
However, Muslim scholars have rejected his decree and now OIC members are meeting in Islamabad to send a united message against such policies.
Sources said that most of the OIC officials traveling to Islamabad are those dealing with Afghan affairs from their respective countries.
A Pakistani official, speaking anonymously, said: “This clearly indicates the focus of the discussion during the conference.”
It remains uncertain whether the Taliban government has been invited to the conference. However, one official suggested that they should be part of it as their participation would at least offer them an insight into the Muslim world’s perspective on their rigid policies.
Afghanistan is the only country among the 57 OIC member states where girls are prohibited from going to school.
Sources also suggest that given the current situation in Afghanistan, it would not be a surprise if the Islamabad conference issued a strong statement urging Kabul to lift the ban on female education.
Pakistan will host the conference amid strained relations with Afghanistan over cross-border terror attacks. Recent Pakistani airstrikes on TTP hideouts across the border have escalated tensions, with both sides exchanging fire along the border.
In recent days, senior Afghan Taliban leaders have issued threatening statements against Pakistan. Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Stanikzai warned on Saturday about sending fighters across the border if Pakistan did not “amend its ways.”
Pakistan has consistently alleged that Afghanistan is protecting the TTP.
Following a series of terrorist attacks, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared that any aggression from across the border would cross Pakistan’s red line.
While stating that Pakistan wanted to resolve issues through dialogue, Prime Minister Shehbaz stated that for that to work, the Taliban would have to stop providing shelter to the TTP.
