'Malaysia does not recognise Taliban govt, no education pact signed'

Summary

• Malaysia does not officially recognise the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, says Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.

• As such, she says no official agreements regarding education were signed with them following a visit by an Afghan delegation last year.

There are no official relations or strategic cooperations signed between Malaysia and the Taliban government controlling Afghanistan at the moment.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said this is because Malaysia has not yet officially recognised the country’s de facto authorities.

She said this while explaining how no agreements on education were signed following an Afghan delegation’s meeting with her last November.

“On this matter, the Education Ministry will continue to get advice and guidance from the Foreign Ministry,” she said in a written reply yesterday.

She also explained that the Afghan delegation visit last year was sponsored by an international NGO using European Union funds meant to support capacity building in Afghanistan.

Fadhlina had come under fire for meeting the Afghan delegates last year, due to the Taliban regime’s oppression of women.

Women and girls are banned from attending school by the Taliban.

In December, it was reported that a new law was also introduced banning women from medical training.

Fadhlina had defended her meeting with the Taliban, saying it was an opportunity to open their eyes to women’s right to education, even if the odds of them allowing women back to school are “slim as onion skin”.

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