Taliban Reopens Girls' High Schools, Then "A Surprise Happens"

Hours after reopening, the Taliban ordered the closure of girls' high schools in Afghanistan again on Wednesday, as announced by a spokesperson for the movement. Spokesperson Enamullah Samangani briefly told AFP, "Yes, this is correct," without providing further details, confirming information that the girls were asked to return to their homes. An AFP team was filming a lesson in a classroom at Zargona Girls' High School in the capital, Kabul, on Wednesday morning when a teacher entered and instructed the students to go home. The girls were excited to return to school for the first time since the militant group took power last August, but they closed their books, gathered their belongings, and left in tears. The international community has long emphasized everyone's right to education in negotiations regarding aid to Afghanistan and recognition of the Taliban regime, with several countries and organizations proposing to pay teachers' salaries to improve the educational system.