Islamabad: Afghanistan’s former president Hamid Karzai on Sunday called on the Taliban regime to allow girls and women to attend school and university, as the country marked 105 years of independence.

Karzai emphasized the importance of women’s education and participation in society, urging all Afghans to work together to overcome poverty, acquire knowledge and strive for progress.

According to United Nations data, 1.4 million Afghan girls have been deliberately deprived of secondary and higher education in the country. Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban banned girls and women from studying beyond primary school. (DPA)