KABUL (Pajhwok): Schools and universities will reopen for girls across Afghanistan next month, hopes a senior American diplomat.
“Taliban will make decisions to enroll women and girls at all levels,” said the US special representative for Afghanistan.
Thomas West believes Afghan girls and women would be put back in schools and universities in response to consistent domestic demands.
Speaking at the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) in Washington, he hailed talks with the Taliban as productive.
Discussions between the two sides on the Islamic State and counter-terrorism had been relatively honest, frank and productive, the envoy acknowledged.
West opined the Taliban were sincere in their efforts to keep [ISIS-Khorasan Province] in check.
However, he explained, the new Afghan government was not serious about honouring their pledge to sever ties with Al Qaeda.
The special envoy insisted the US was not aiding what he called organised armed opposition to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).
The US would also discourage other powers from supporting armed rivals of the Taliban, the diplomat added.
President Joe Biden’s decision on splitting Afghan reserves was aimed to protect them for the country, West claimed.
He added: “Fundamentally, the action was about protecting $3.5 billion (half of the Afghan reserves held in the US) for the benefit of the Afghan people.”
PAN Monitor/mud
Hits: 17