Girls’ education conference in Islamabad is a ‘propaganda move’: Khalilzad

Pakistan organizing an Islamic conference on women’s education is not out of any sincere concern for Afghan women, but rather is a propaganda move as part of ongoing conflict with the Islamic Emirate, former US special envoy for Afghanistan peace, Zalmay Khalilzad, said on Saturday.

Khalilzad, however, also criticized the Islamic Emirate’s restrictions on girls’ education.

“But sometimes, even your enemy can end up doing you a favor. It is true that the Taliban (IEA) leader’s draconian restriction on women’s education is un-Islamic, harmful to the country’s national interest, and a violation of human rights,” he said on X.

“When will the sensible elements of the Taliban (IEA) and other Afghans stand up against the ill-guided decisions from Kandahar? Ultimately, it falls on the Afghans to solve this problem,” he added.

The International Conference on Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities is scheduled to begin today (Saturday) in Islamabad.

It comes as the girls’ education beyond the sixth grade is suspended in Afghanistan.

Pakistani government has announced that it has also invited the Islamic Emirate to the conference.