The Deputy Foreign Minister, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, stressed the importance of reopening schools for girl students beyond grade 6, saying that the main reasons people are distanced from the interim Afghan government is the continued ban on female education.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony, the deputy foreign minister said that a society without knowledge is “dark”.

The ceremony was held by the Ministry of Borders and Tribal Affairs to mark the graduation of students who have studied in educational entities under the ministry.

“This is everyone’s right. This is the natural right which God and the prophet has gave to them, how can someone take this right from them? If anyone violates this right, this is an oppression against the Afghans and the people of this country. Try to reopen the doors of the educational institutions for everyone. Today our only problem with the neighbors and world is caused because of the issue of education. If the nation is getting distant from us and upset with us, that is due to the education issue,” he said.
Stanikzai said that the criticism towards the current government in Afghanistan and distance of the citizens from the Islamic Emirate is due to the continued closure of schools.

“This country cannot only be controlled either by Islamic Emirate or republic [system]. Whenever the nation supports the government, then everything is possible,” said Hameedullah Hotak, a political analyst.

Meanwhile, the acting Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, Noorullah Noori, said that they have enrolled the youth in schools who are living in far areas and lack access to education. He also stressed that there is no distance between religious and modern education.

“The issue of distance is not true. There is no distance. The education that is being taught under Islamic Emirate’s rule, I can tell you that there has been no such system before,” Noori said.

The girls students above grade six have been deprived of their schools since the Islamic Emirate came to power. The female universities have also been closed by the interim government.