‘Taliban Don’t Like Being Told What To Do’: Imran Khan Justifies Ban On Women’s Education In Afghanistan Again

Former prime minister Imran Khan has said the Afghan Taliban “don’t like being told what to do” while responding to a question related to if he would urge the Taliban to remove a ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan.

“They [the Taliban] don’t like being told what to do.”

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan tells @mattfrei Western governments will not be able to influence the Taliban if they isolate them. pic.twitter.com/ikVT4nNGeg

— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) March 23, 2023

In an interview with Channel 4 News, host Matt Frei said that Pakistan holds an enormous influence on events in neighbouring Afghanistan.

“Would you say to the Taliban running Afghanistan today to let the girls go to school?” the host questioned Imran Khan.

Initially, the ex-premier evaded the question, however, when pressed by the host to answer the question, Imran Khan went on to say “because I know the Afghan character much more than anyone there, especially in the western countries, they do not like to be told what to do”.

The former premier added that if the US wants to influence Afghanistan, they must bring the Taliban to the table.

The ex-premier said that once the Taliban are engaged in dialogue with the western countries, then western countries can discuss human rights abuses in Afghanistan with them.

This is not the first time Imran Khan has defended the Afghan Taliban ban on women’s education. While holding the Prime Minister’s Office, Imran Khan had justified the Taliban banning women’s education in Afghanistan, saying that not providing women with education is part of the ethnic Pashtun culture.

News Desk