MONITORING (SW) – The United States will look to see what more it can do to hold the Taliban to account after Afghanistan’s Taliban-run higher education ministry on Tuesday suspended access to universities by female students until further notice.
“This unacceptable stance will have significant consequences for the Taliban and will further alienate the Taliban from the international community,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at a regular news briefing.
The United states is in touch with allies over the decision by Afghanistan’s Taliban-run higher education ministry on Tuesday to suspend access to universities for female students until further notice, the White House said.
“The United States condemns the Taliban‘s indefensible decision to prevent Afghan women from receiving a university-level education,” National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement.
Diplomatic and Taliban official sources have told Reuters the issue had been under discussion by the leadership.
“This decision had been anticipated for weeks, prompting some Western officials to start talking about additional sanctions and further economic restrictions,” said Graeme Smith, senior consultant at International Crisis Group.
“But the flood of outrage from the West will strengthen the resolve of the Taliban leadership, which defines itself as a bulwark against the outside world.”
Taliban leadership have said they want peaceful relations with the international community but that foreigners should not interfere in domestic affairs.
Most girls are unable to go to school beyond primary classes.
