“The voice of Paktia’s feminine college students is the voice of all our women and of Afghanistan,” tweeted Karzai. “We ask the appearing Islamic authorities to open the faculties,” he mentioned. Taliban made a sudden U-turn on vows to open women’ highschools in March. Authorities in Paktia mentioned this week that women’ excessive colleges had re-opened, although the transfer had not been formally accepted. However three locals and three Taliban officers mentioned colleges had been shut on Saturday. One particular person mentioned the closure had prompted women to protest. Video footage confirmed dozens of women marching down a road whereas chanting.