AfPak File: The Taliban’s Broken Promise On Girls Education

For many weeks, the Taliban had vowed to allow older girls to return to school on March 23. However, the Taliban reneged on that promise this week, meaning that millions of young women across Afghanistan continued to be denied their education.

Why did the Taliban break their promise? How has the move been received in Afghanistan? Is there a chance that the Taliban will eventually relent and open up the schools? And what might the move mean for international engagement with the Taliban and for international assistance efforts?

The latest episode of The AfPak File addresses these questions and more. Joining the debate are Pashtana Durrani, executive director of the Afghan education NGO LEARN; Humira Noorestani, an attorney and member of the American Council on Women, Peace, and Security; and Michael Kugelman, senior associate for South Asia at the Wilson Center.

Muhammad Tahir of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty moderates the debate.

This podcast originally appeared on RFE/RL.