Malaysia says recognition of Kabul govt hinges on women’s rights, education

Malaysia said on Thursday recognition of the Taliban government would depend on justice, women’s rights, inclusivity and guaranteed access to education.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said his government, in coordination with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, is considering the issue of recognizing the Taliban administration, but stressed that any decision would depend on justice, inclusivity, women’s rights, Ethnic groups protections and access to education. He made the remarks in a post on X on Thursday after a phone call with Taliban Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund.

Anwar said he also discussed ways to ease tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan and expressed hope that recent strains would subside. He voiced support for mediation efforts by Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia and said Malaysia would continue humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

His comments are notable because they mark the first time he has publicly spoken of Malaysia examining recognition of the Taliban authorities. No Islamic country has formally recognized the Taliban government since it returned to power in 2021, despite continued diplomatic engagement by several regional states.

The remarks come as Afghanistan begins a new academic year with girls still excluded from secondary schools and universities, extending one of the Taliban’s most widely condemned policies. This year marks the fifth consecutive academic year to begin without girls above grade six in classrooms, while women also remain barred from higher education in most fields.

The education restrictions have remained a major obstacle to the Taliban’s international legitimacy, with governments and aid agencies repeatedly saying recognition and deeper engagement depend in part on a reversal of the bans on girls’ schooling and women’s public participation. The Taliban has defended the restrictions as an internal matter tied to its interpretation of Islamic law.

UNICEF and UNESCO said in January that Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls and women are barred from secondary and higher education, warning that 2.2 million adolescent girls have already been affected. The agencies said the continued ban is harming not only girls’ futures but also Afghanistan’s health system, economy and long-term stability.

UNICEF has also warned that if the restrictions remain in place through 2030, more than four million girls could be denied education beyond primary school. Aid groups say the policy is likely to deepen poverty, child marriage and the shortage of qualified female teachers and health workers across the country.

Anwar’s statement suggests some Muslim-majority countries are still exploring how to engage the Taliban diplomatically, but it also underlines that recognition remains tied to unresolved questions over rights, inclusion and education. With another school year beginning without millions of Afghan girls, those issues are likely to remain at the center of any international decision on the Taliban’s status.

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