Karzai: Girls must be allowed to return to school

KABUL (Pajhwok): Former president Hamid Karzai has renewed his call for allowing girls to return to schools in March when they reopen.

In an interview, he stressed: “There cannot be an excuse and there must not be an excuse. No excuse is understandable. The girls must return to school.”

Speaking to CNN from Kabul late on Monday, Karzai restated his firm position on the issue of education for girls and women.

He added: “Women should return to work. Our religion allows it … No compromise on principles or rights, or running the country better.”

Answering a question regarding the Taliban delegation’s ongoing visit to Oslo, he supported these meetings as a constructive development.

The ex-president remarked: “We are happy about the meetings that have taken place in Norway between the Taliban government representatives and members of the civil society.”

A parallel track of two activities must happen at the same time, he said, underlining the need for peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The opinion and aspiration of all other Afghans must be sought while enacting a constitution and moving forward with opening schools for girls, he maintained.

PAN Monitor/mud

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