By Our Correspondent
TORKHAM: Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban’s Deputy Foreign Minister, has fled Afghanistan amidst controversy over his opposition to the ban on girls’ education imposed by the Taliban regime.
Stanikzai, known for advocating the lifting of restrictions on female education, condemned the ban as anti-Islamic during a recent ceremony in Khost province. His outspoken stance led to internal division within the Taliban leadership, prompting Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada to order Stanikzai’s arrest and impose a travel ban on him.
Stanikzai’s departure to Dubai was initially reported as for medical treatment.
follows the Taliban’s decision to suspend university education for women in December 2022, a move that drew international criticism. Under the new rules, female students are barred from accessing higher education, further restricting educational opportunities for Afghan women under Taliban rule.
