Former President Hamid Karzai in a meeting with the UN special envoy for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, stressed the need to reopen the schools for girls above grade six.

The former president said on Twitter that they also discussed the return of women to work.

“To ensure an enduring peace and stability in Afghanistan, the two sides stressed the need to ensure a national dialogue,” Karzai said on Twitter.

But the Islamic Emirate’s Spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said that women are allowed to work in some areas, particularly the health sector.

“Regarding the work of women, I can say that the Islamic Emirate has allowed the women to work in the essential areas, for example in the health sector, education and higher education, and women police departments and women’s prisons and the passport department,” he said.

This comes as girls beyond grade six on the eve of the new educational year, called on the caretaker government to reopen the schools for them.

“I call on the Islamic Emirate to reopen the doors of schools, universities and educational centers, so that the girls can have a bright future,” said Halima, a student.

“The government should reopen the doors of the schools and universities because there is no Sharia reason for suspension of girls education,"  said Sadaf, a student.

The Iran ambassador in Kabul, Hassan Kazimi Qomi, said that in his meeting with the Qatar ambassador in Kabul, Saeed Mubarak al-Khayarin al-Hajri, discussed the education of Afghan students in Iran.

“The continuation of the situation can cause disputes at a national level and it can also affect relations at an international level for the current rulers of the country,” said Hekmatullah Mirzad, a university instructor.

It has been more than 500 days since the schools for the girls from grade 7-12 have remained closed.