Islamabad: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhary said that Pakistan will continue its efforts to encourage women’s education in Afghanistan.
The minister’s remarks came during a telephonic conversation with Malala Yousafzai, the world’s youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
“Pakistan is also providing educational facilities to children of Afghan refugees as about 6,000 Afghan children are studying in Pakistan,” said Fawad.
Malala informed the information minister about the international concerns on women’s rights in Afghanistan, calling for Pakistan to play an active role to promote women education in Afghanistan.
Girls wearing white hijabs and black tunics are streaming into classrooms in the western Afghan city of Herat just days after the Taliban’s takeover.
As the school opened its doors, the students scurried down corridors and chatted in courtyards, seemingly oblivious to the turmoil that has engulfed the country in the past two weeks.
The scenes – which many feared would be banned under the Taliban – were filmed by an AFP cameraman this week, just days after fighters from the armed group took the city following the collapse of government forces and local militias.
“We want to progress like other countries,” said student Roqia.
“And we hope the Taliban will maintain security. We don’t want war, we want peace in our country.”
With its close proximity to the Iranian border, the ancient Silk Road city of Herat has long been a cosmopolitan exception to more conservative centres. APP
