India called for setting up an inclusive government in Afghanistan

India on Thursday expressed its concern over the Taliban-led government’s decision to ban university education for women in Afghanistan. It also renewed its call for the setting up of an inclusive government in Kabul that ensures equal rights of women and girls in all aspects of Afghan society.

“We have noted with concern the reports in this regard. India has consistently supported the cause of female education in Afghanistan,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said during the weekly press briefing.

After excluding girls from most secondary schools these past 16 months, the Taliban this week also banned university education for women.

Earlier in March, the Taliban barred girls from going to secondary schools.

“We have emphasised the importance of the establishment of an inclusive and representative government that respects the rights of all Afghans and ensures the equal rights of women and girls to participate in all aspects of Afghan society, including access to higher education,” Bagchi said.

He also referred to the UN Security Council Resolution 2593 on Afghanistan.

“I would also recall UN Security Council Resolution 2593, which reaffirms the importance of upholding human rights, including those of women, and also calls for full, equal and meaningful participation of women,” Bagchi said.

Adopted on August 30, 2021, the UNSC resolution 2593 talked about the need for upholding human rights in Afghanistan, while demanding that Afghan territory should not be used for terrorism and that a negotiated political settlement should be found to the crisis.

Several countries, including Japan, the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, France and Germany have strongly condemned the Taliban’s decision to ban women from universities.