- UAE FM discusses Taliban move to ban university education for girls.
- He talked to FM Bilawal on phone.
- Both leaders reiterated their support for peace in Afghanistan.
His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized the need to guarantee women’s rights and the importance of full and equal participation of women and girls in all aspects. . Life, Geo News reported on Thursday.
His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah called FM Bilawal and discussed the developments in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s decision to ban the education of girls and women in the country’s universities.
Both leaders emphasized that Islam has given women a privileged position, and protected their rights.
During the phone call, FM Bilawal and Sheikh Abdullah emphasized their strong stand in support of security, stability and peace in Afghanistan. He also called for advancing international efforts to build a more sustainable future for the Afghan people.
The Taliban banned girls’ university education.
On December 20, Afghanistan’s Taliban-run Ministry of Higher Education suspended female students’ access to universities until further notice, drawing strong condemnation from the United States, Britain and the United Nations.
A letter, confirmed by a spokesman for the Ministry of Higher Education, directed Afghan public and private universities to immediately suspend access to female students, in accordance with the cabinet’s decision.
The announcement by the Taliban administration, which was not recognized internationally, came as the United Nations Security Council met in New York on Afghanistan.
Foreign governments, including the United States, have said that policies on women’s education need to change before they can consider formally recognizing the Taliban-run administration, which is subject to heavy sanctions.
Pakistan urged the Taliban to withdraw the decision.
Condemning the decision to suspend university and higher education for female students in Afghanistan, Pakistan urged the Afghan authorities to reconsider the decision.
“Pakistan is disappointed to learn of the suspension of university and higher education for female students in Afghanistan,” an official Foreign Office statement read, adding that Pakistan’s position on the matter has been “clear and consistent.”
“Every man and woman has the inherent right to receive education in accordance with the injunctions of Islam,” the FO added.
Female university students in Afghanistan were kicked off campuses on Wednesday after the Taliban-run administration said women would be barred from tertiary education.
The decision to ban women was announced in a letter written by the chief minister to universities on Tuesday evening, drawing condemnation from foreign governments and the United Nations.