The EU and the US do not get a commitment from the Taliban to readmit women to the education system

MADRID, 5 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The special envoy of the European Union for Afghanistan, Tomas Niklasson, has acknowledged this Sunday that his visit to Kabul, the capital of the country, has ended without obtaining a commitment from the Taliban fundamentalists to readmit the girls to secondary education or to the women in college.

"The opening of schools and universities to provide quality education to Afghan boys and girls, women and men is not optional," said the envoy at a press conference reported by Tolo News. "And despite our clear questions, we have not obtained a firm commitment," he lamented.

For Niklasson, education represents "a necessary investment in the future, in the next generation, in a better Afghanistan and, above all, it is an action, it is a request of all Afghans, to whom we are addressing".

Since the radical Islamist group returned to power in August 2021, Afghanistan has become the only country in the world to deny women secondary education. They are also prohibited from doing many jobs, including working with non-governmental organizations.

"This is a clear violation of women's right to work that severely affects their ability to support themselves and their families," the EU official added.

Just as disappointed has been the US envoy, Thomas West, who has acknowledged that "frankly, there is no hope" that women will return to class next month for the new academic year.

"We have been listening to promises since March of last year. At this point, these promises have failed. We need to see that the Taliban keep their word," he added in statements to the same outlet.