Taliban agrees to let girls attend school

ISLAMABAD: The Taliban in Pakistan's northwestern Mohmand tribal region have agreed to let girls attend school if their teachers wear veils.

The leader of a jirga of tribal elders, Abdul Manan Kodakhel, said the Taliban had agreed to allow girls to enrol in schools if the condition is met.

Former parliamentarian Maulana Abdul Malik, who negotiated with the government on behalf of the Taliban, too agreed to provide protection to government employees in the area and said they could do their jobs without any fear.

The Taliban, however, announced that non-governmental organisations would not be allowed to resume work in the area. They accused the NGOs of "spreading obscenity" which could not be tolerated, the Dawn newspaper reported today.

The Taliban also said that roads in Mohmand Agency could be used by Pakistani security forces but attacks by foreign forces must be stopped immediately.

A group of tribal elders also met Amjad Ali Khan, the political agent of Mohmand Agency, and apprised him of the outcome of talks held with the Taliban.
The political authorities released seven men of the Qandahari tribe and asked the jirga to continue its work for peace in the area.