Former President Hamid Karzai suggested all girls “must definitely” return back to schools even if the international community doesn’t push this matter, as it is “absolutely” necessary for the well-being of Afghanistan.  

According to Karzai, the return of the girls to school and the access of women to work is the demand of the Afghan nation itself.  

The former Afghan president made the remarks in an interview with France 24.  

Karzai said there are some initial steps needed to be taken at the national level to pave the way for recognition. 

“On the issue of recognition by the international community, my proposal has been from the very beginning this--that we the Afghan people need to put our own house in order first,” he said.  

“The first responsibility comes to the current government--to the Taliban government--to make sure that all Afghans from all walks of life--from all the Afghan people--are addressed, brought together, and the future of the country (is) discussed…. The decision is made through the will of the Afghan people. The expression of that will is necessary then definitely recognition will follow,” Karzai said.  

The former Afghan president who remained in power from 2001 until 2014 called on US President Joe Biden to mull over the decision on Afghan assets frozen in US banks.  

Biden last Friday signed an executive order to split the $7 billion Afghan assets into two parts. Half of the assets would flow to the Afghan humanitarian outreach effort, and another half would be in reserve as compensation for the victims of the 9/11 attack.

Talking to the US Institute on Peace (USIP), the US special envoy for Afghanistan Thomas West said Biden’s decision has been misinterpreted and that the final decision over the Afghan assets would be taken by the American courts. 

“Fundamentally the action was about protecting $3.5 billion dollars for the benefit of the Afghan people. There remains $3.5 billion dollars in a court process, but I want to make very clear that no decision has been made by that court on awards,” he said.  

However, Biden’s decision has faced strong reactions at the national and international level.