Taliban’s ban on Haskamina schools continues

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Schools in the Haskamina district of eastern Nangarhar province remained closed for a fourth day on Saturday after Taliban insurgents ordered them shut.

The armed rebels have closed 23 schools and the only teacher training institute in the district and have warned students against attending classes to put pressure on the government to release their detained comrades.

Nangarhar Education Department spokesman Mohammad Asif Shinwari said around 17,000 students had been affected by the ban.

He said few days ago, some teachers held talks with Taliban requesting them to allow the schools to be reopened, but the militants linked it to the release of their detained friends.

The militants have now added another condition that they should be allowed free movement on a road which the government had closed on them.

Shinwari said teachers and tribal elders had visited the militants in groups for talks, but there had been no breakthrough.

nh/ma

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