Taliban Conditionally Allow Afghan Girls to Study in Pakistan

Taliban authorities have conditionally agreed to permit Afghan girls to pursue higher education in Pakistan, contingent upon the issuance of visas for their male guardians, VOA reported. This decision follows recent entrance examinations taken by Afghan students aiming for admission to Pakistani universities.

Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, announced that nearly 21,000 Afghan candidates, including over 5,000 females, applied for the upcoming academic sessions. The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan is set to select up to 2,000 Afghan students, with one-third being female.

Pakistan expressed gratitude to the Taliban for this arrangement, emphasizing the importance of chaperones in accordance with Afghan law. The Taliban has not officially commented on the agreement. This development comes amid rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan over security concerns, yet both countries aim to enhance educational and economic cooperation. The United Nations continues to criticize the Taliban’s restrictions on women, labeling them as “gender apartheid.”