Taliban Snubs Global Girls' Education Summit

The Afghan Taliban government declined an invitation to a global summit on girls' education hosted in Islamabad, Pakistan, marking a significant absence as the country remains the only one where girls are banned from schooling. Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui confirmed that no representatives from Afghanistan attended, although various organizations advocating for girls' education were present. The Taliban's restrictions have resulted in 1.4 million Afghan girls being deprived of education since their takeover in 2021, with a worsening crisis highlighted by a UN report that noted a significant drop in school enrollment. Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai participated in the summit, emphasizing the need for accountability regarding the Taliban's policies that have created a dire educational landscape for women and girls in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted the broader challenges faced by the Muslim world in ensuring equitable access to education. The summit aims to address these pressing issues amid a backdrop of alarming statistics regarding educational deprivation.