Lori Bristow, the former British ambassador to Afghanistan, has warned that the exclusion of women and girls from education will have fundamental consequences for Afghanistan.
Mr. Bristow stated that London should not recognize the interim government in Afghanistan; however, it should engage with the Afghan government to better understand its views and approaches.
He emphasized that engagement does not mean agreeing with the current government’s policies.
The former British ambassador to Afghanistan said, “The British government has worked with many whom it did not agree with. Some of them have been governments, and some have not. We do not agree with all the actions the current government is taking, especially against women and girls, and we must explain the consequences of these actions.”
Additionally, this former British official expressed concern over the ban on education for women and girls in Afghanistan, stating that the current government has deprived half of the workforce of access to education through this action.
He stressed the need to lift gender restrictions and empower Afghan women, adding, “We must convince the current government in Afghanistan that if they want to govern the country, they cannot sidelined half of society.”
Lori Bristow was appointed as the British ambassador to Afghanistan in May 2021, replacing Alison Blake, and returned to the UK on August 29 of the same year.
While the former ambassador made these remarks, the current government has deprived women and girls of education and schooling since taking control of Afghanistan. Most recently, it closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, even as the healthcare sector across Afghanistan faces a shortage of personnel.
This action by the current government has left millions of female students unable to access education.
Moreover, women have been banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international NGOs, as well as in UN offices in Afghanistan.
According to reports, if this ban continues, nearly four million girls may be deprived of education by 2030.
