Source: Dan Bohmer

Source: Abdu Saboor, Afghan Media Resource Center

There's no panacea for Afghanistan's raft of social, political, and humanitarian issues. However, kneecapping 50% of the population for no justifiable reason is only a recipe for more shattered lives and stifled futures. Restricting access to education on the basis of gender, or for any other reason, is a detriment to the entire country. It effects the economy, it effects security—it effects everything. The girls currently missing out on the education they deserve are more aware of this than anyone else. It's important to recognize that the reality of girls access to education in Afghanistan is more complex than click-bait headlines make it out to be. Many girls (and boys) had no access to education long before the Taliban came to power, whether because of social/family conservatism or a simple lack of access to schools and teachers. Some, both girls and boys, have access to classes now when they didn't under the republic government, often because it was previously too dangerous to travel to school. In many districts, local communities have just as much influence over the running (or closing) of schools as the Taliban government does. I've been to plenty of communities where local Taliban have basically adopted a "sort yourselves out" approach to schooling because they don't have the capacity or desire to get involved in the process. As long as the communities don't do anything that rocks the boat, no-one bothers them. In other areas, provincial or district-level Taliban have indeed stepped in to enforce their own rules, including bans and closing entire schools. Where the Taliban have banned girls from school, they've never offered any sensical justification, because there's clearly none to be made. There is no conceivable reason to actively prevent these girls from reaching their full potential. Every kid (and adult) deserves access to the tools they need to live a happy and fulfilled life. When this access is denied, talents and passions go undiscovered, and the successes of current and future generations begin to melt into the ether. #Zabul #Afghanistan Photo & text by Kern Hendricks on June 27, 22. (at Zabul, Afganistan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgUhaqJuU9l/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

په زابل کې څاه ته د لوېدلي ماشوم د ژغورنې چارې ناکامې شوي او نوموړي خپل ژوند له لاسه ورکړی دی. د حکومت وياند پر خپل ټويټر ليکلي چې: ‏د تازه راپورونو له مخې په زابل کې څاه ته غورځیدلی ماشوم حیدر، سره له دې چې له څاه څخه را وایستل شو، خو وفات شو. #afghanistan #zabul #haider #pohawai #پوهاوی https://www.instagram.com/p/CaHLjLVs6j2/?utm_medium=tumblr

#Taliban have captured #Qalat, capital of #Zabul Province, without a fight. https://www.instagram.com/p/CSg-Sd7hwsC/?utm_medium=tumblr

انفجار در شهر قلات ولایت زابل، که سه نفر زحمی گزارش داده شده است #InfoSpin #چرخ‌معلومات #د‌مالوماتو‌څرخ #Security | #Zabul | #Afghanistan https://www.instagram.com/p/CIKusHILpd3/?igshid=e1vyiurfmk14

زابل: موټرچلونکي وايي پوليس پر لويه لار ورڅخه پيسي اخلي