Afghanistan dismisses Taliban vow to open schools
KABUL: The Afghan government dismissed as “ridiculous” on Monday, a Taliban vow to open schools in Afghanistan, saying this was likely a pretext for moving “hate madrassas” into the country from Pakistan. The United Nations also said it did not take seriously the announcement. Education Minister Hanif Atmar scoffed at the claim, telling AFP the Taliban burned down 183 schools and killed 61 teachers and students in the past one and a half years.
Attacks by the insurgents had also closed down nearly 400 schools, most of them in the areas where they said they would open them up, he said in an interview.
Atmar also questioned the claim they would allow girls to go school. “During the years of their power in Afghanistan they did not allow even a single girl to go to public schools. How come their policy has now dramatically changed?” He said the government would have the “legitimate right” to attack Taliban schools that became centres of terrorism. The United Nations mission was also dismissive. “I don’t think we see this as being serious,” spokesman Adrian Edwards said. agencies
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| Monday, October 10, 2005
