Muhammad Taqi Usmani, a well-known Pakistani Islamic scholar, in a statement urged the leaders of the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools for female students above grade six.  

He said girl’s access to education is a primary need at the current time.  

“In the current situation, girls' education is the vital issue. Enemies are using this against the Islamic Emirate. The Islamic Emirate has taken sincere and good steps. We welcome it but we call for action to be taken toward girls' education under a Sharia format,” the cleric was quoted in a statement seen by the media.  

This comes as the Ministry of Education (MoE) said that negotiations are underway regarding girls' education and that there is optimism that girls' schools will be reopened in the near future.

“Discussion and consultations are underway at a high level within the Islamic Emirate. There is optimism that a proper (solution) will be found for this issue and our sisters will return to their lessons,” said Aziz Ahmad Riyan, a spokesman for the Ministry of Education.  

Previously the council of Pakistan religious scholars and the Afghan clerics' community urged the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools for girls above grade six.  

“This action of the Taliban will cause a serious obstacle for their (government's) recognition,” said Hekmatullah Meerzad, a university instructor.  

The ban on schooling for girls in grades 7-12 has faced serious reactions inside the outside Afghanistan, but the girls' schools have yet to be reopened.