Daily Times

Pakistan on Wednesday voiced disappointment over the ban on university education for women in Afghanistan.

“Pakistan is disappointed to learn about the suspension of the university and higher education for female students in Afghanistan,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement.

“We strongly believe that every man and woman has the inherent right to education in accordance with the injunctions of Islam,” it added. The FO strongly urged the Afghan authorities to revisit this decision.

Hundreds of young women were stopped by guards on Wednesday from entering Afghan university campuses, a day after the nation’s Taliban rulers banned them from higher education in another assault on human rights. Despite promising a softer rule when they seized power last year, the Afghan Taliban ratcheted up restrictions on all aspects of women’s lives, ignoring international outrage.

A team of AFP journalists saw groups of students gathered outside universities in the capital, Kabul, barred from entering by armed guards and shuttered gates. Many, dressed in hijabs, were also seen standing in groups on roads leading to the campuses.

“We are doomed. We have lost everything,” said one student, who asked not to be identified.

Men students also expressed shock at the latest edict.

A day earlier, Afghanistan’s Taliban-run higher education ministry had announced that female students would not be allowed access to the country’s universities until further notice.

A letter, confirmed by a spokesperson for the higher education ministry, instructed Afghan public and private universities to suspend access to female students immediately, in accordance with a cabinet decision.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tuesday told the UN Security Council that engagement with the Taliban was the best option to stabilize the region, realize respect for human rights, especially women’s rights, and to eliminate terrorism within and from that country.

“Coercion and isolation have not proved successful in the past; they will prove to be counter-productive now and in the future,” Ambassador Munir Akram stressed while participating in a debate on the situation in Afghanistan.

“We need a coherent and practical plan to realize the objectives of the international community through patient engagement with the interim government,” the Pakistani envoy told the 15-member Council.

The key to reviving the Afghan economy is to inject the financial assets of Afghanistan – especially the $7 billion that are held abroad – into the Afghan financial system.

“Our first priority must remain to reverse the current humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where 95% of the population exists in extreme poverty,” Ambassador Akram said.

He said that during her recent visit to Kabul, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, had assured Taliban leaders of Pakistan’s all possible humanitarian assistance for Afghan refugees, improving trade prospects, transit access and technical assistance to Afghanistan. However, she had also made it clear that Pakistan will not compromise on the issue of women’s rights to education and work and other human rights.

In this regard, Ambassador Akram said Pakistan was “extremely disturbed” by the latest announcement on restrictions on higher education for women in Afghanistan, but called for cooperation and persuasion instead of coercion to ensure women’s rights.

While there was no credible challenge within Afghanistan to the control of the Afghan interim government, the Pakistani envoy said that greater political inclusion will serve to advance the goal of peace and stability in the country.

Expressing deep concern over the rise of terrorist violence within and from Afghanistan, he pointed out that While the international media focused on a much-diminished Al-Qaeda, “the major threat today emanates from ISIL-K (Daesh) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).”

Pointing to ISIL-KP’s recent attacks against the Russian Embassy, Chinese personnel in Kabul and Pakistan’s head of mission, Ambassador Akram said that the terrorist group remains a potent threat as it continues to receive funding from outside of Afghanistan and is thus equipped to attract recruits. Describing The TTP as “the largest terrorist group within Afghanistan,” he said its safe havens are located in Nangarhar province, close to Pakistan’s borders.

Pakistan continues to suffer cross-border attacks by the TTP, which, he said, receives financing and sponsorship from “external sources.”