Kandahar faction officials have described the ban on girls' education as a "mistake" and a wrong decision and have called for the restrictions to be lifted. According to one of the officials, some Taliban leaders have openly supported girls' education and believe that the decision could have a positive impact on the leadership.
Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has strongly denied the existence of any internal tension, but has referred to internal disagreements and said that "sometimes there are differences of opinion among people."
Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the Taliban's deputy foreign minister, who previously played a key role in negotiations with the United States, is also strongly opposed to the ban on girls' education, calling it contrary to Islamic law. Stanekzai has sought refuge in the United Arab Emirates after expressing dissatisfaction with Taliban policies.
According to UNICEF, nearly 2.2 million girls in Afghanistan are deprived of education. Also, many families have left Afghanistan to send their daughters to school. Researchers and human rights activists have expressed concern that the Taliban is unwilling to change its policies in this regard and that the situation will not change for the benefit of Afghan girls.
NBC News, citing sources within the Taliban group, reported that there are serious and growing differences between the Kandahar faction and the Kabul faction regarding girls' education.
Farzana Ahmadi
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