Taliban U-turn

Mar 25th 2022 The Guardian

Not exactly unexpected… Despite their promises the Taliban did not let secondary schools for girls to open. The schools were supposed to open last week, but stayed closed, and girls were told to go home. The Taliban also said that the schools would stay shut for now.

The Taliban education ministry said schools would stay shut “until further notice when a comprehensive plan, in accordance with Sharia and Afghan culture, is developed”. Not to be too cynical about it, but I think this translates to “never”.

It looks like it is easier to run an insurgency than a government. Some in the Taliban realise that they need to keep their promises and let girls attend school, to keep international aid flowing into the country. But some stick to their dated ideology and want to keep girls out of education, regardless of the consequences.

Running a government means you need to make compromises. The Taliban would be wise to learn that, they are not an insurgency anymore.

After all, if you are the government of a country, the sky will not fall on your head if you let girls go to school.

Taliban U-turn over Afghan girls’ education reveals deep leadership divisions