A group of Pakistani clerics meeting under the banner of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam criticised the Afghan Taliban for denying girls access to education, saying the policy has no basis in Islamic law.
In a statement issued after a meeting held on Monday in Karachi and chaired by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the clerics said that “depriving girls of education has no justification in Islam” and urged the Taliban to immediately reopen educational institutions to girls.
The statement said education is a “religious obligation” for both men and women, warning that continued restrictions on girls’ education would harm Afghan society, future generations and Afghanistan’s international standing.
The Pakistani clerics said the ongoing ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan is “contrary to Islamic principles.”
Since returning to power, the Taliban have closed schools above grade six, universities and other higher education institutions to girls. Afghan citizens, Islamic countries and the wider international community have repeatedly condemned the Taliban’s denial of the right to education for women and girls and have called for the policy to be reversed. The Taliban, however, have remained unresponsive to these demands.
Criticism of Pakistan’s Attacks on Afghanistan
In another part of the statement, the clerics called on the Afghan Taliban not to allow Afghan territory to be used to carry out terrorist attacks against Pakistan.
They also urged that disputes be resolved through dialogue.
Participants condemned armed struggle and militant activities inside Pakistan, describing them as religiously and constitutionally illegitimate.
Meanwhile, Maulana Fazlur Rehman criticised Pakistan’s military strikes on Afghan territory during the gathering, saying regional tensions should be resolved through dialogue and restraint.
Relations between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban deteriorated sharply after Pakistan carried out strikes in October on Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan, leading to deadly border clashes. Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of sheltering Pakistani Taliban militants, a claim the Afghan Taliban deny. United Nations reports, however, have confirmed the presence of Pakistani Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.
