KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – As Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers mark five years since sweeping back to power, some Kabul residents say they feel safer after decades of conflict and upheaval but stress the leaders should now focus on creating jobs and expanding access to schools in the country where girls above the age of 12 are banned from education.
The restrictions, nevertheless, remain in force. Schools lack basic infrastructure such as water, sanitation or heating, while natural disasters have also led to hundreds of school closures. Pointing at a broader educational crisis, the agency said 53% of primary school-aged children are out of school.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has repeatedly said the administration is working to establish conditions under which girls and women can attend classrooms or university campuses in line with Islamic Sharia laws. “We also call upon the Islamic Emirate to permit women to attend school under the sharia dress code and we urge the public to heed the directives of the Emirate also,” said the 38-year-old.
