Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Karzai Urges Taliban to Reopen Afghan Schools for Girls
Hamid Karzai used to be Afghanistan’s president.
He said he will not send his daughter to another country for school.
He wants girls in Afghanistan to be able to study in their own country.
The Taliban currently stop girls from attending school after sixth grade.
They also prohibit girls and women from attending universities.
Karzai says he has repeatedly asked Taliban officials to change these rules.
He says some officials understand why education is important.
UNESCO says Afghanistan is the only country with these restrictions on girls’ secondary and higher education.
Karzai also said he must tell Taliban authorities before leaving home and may receive an escort if they approve his trip.
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he will not send his daughter abroad for schooling.
Karzai urged the Taliban to reopen secondary schools and universities for girls and women.
The Taliban ban girls’ education beyond sixth grade, according to the article.
UNESCO says Afghanistan is the only country where secondary and higher education are forbidden to girls and women.
Karzai said Taliban authorities restrict his movements and provide security escorts when they approve his travel.
- Who
- Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Taliban authorities, Afghan girls and women, and UNESCO.
- What
- Karzai is urging the Taliban to reopen secondary schools and universities for girls while saying he will not send his daughter abroad for education.
- When
- The remarks were made during a Bloomberg interview; the article does not specify the date.
- Where
- Afghanistan.
- Why
- Karzai says girls should receive the best education in Afghanistan’s own environment, culture, historical perspective, and languages, and that sending his daughter abroad would mean giving up that right.
Education advocates
Taliban authorities
Girls’ education
Education advocates
Karzai and UNESCO support reopening schools and universities for girls and women, describing education as essential for Afghanistan.
Taliban authorities
The Taliban continue enforcing restrictions that prohibit girls’ education beyond sixth grade and bar girls and women from higher education; the article does not provide their stated justification.
- Speaker
- Hamid Karzai, former president of Afghanistan
- Education restriction
- Girls are barred from education beyond sixth grade, according to the article.
- Higher education
- The article says girls and women are forbidden from attending universities.
- UNESCO assessment
- UNESCO says Afghanistan is the only country where secondary and higher education are strictly forbidden to girls and women.
- Karzai’s position
- He says he will not send his daughter abroad and wants education available in Afghanistan.
- Taliban policies
- UNESCO says the Taliban have implemented more than 70 decrees violating the rights of girls and women.
- Karzai’s movements
- He said he must notify Taliban authorities before leaving home and may receive an approved security escort.