China, Other BRICS Members Call For Lifting Ban On Girls' Education In Afghanistan

The leaders of China, Russia and other BRICS countries on Wednesday called on the Taliban to lift the ban on girls' and women's education in a statement at the Kazan summit.

Emphasising on the respect for the fundamental rights of the people, they called for a peaceful and immediate resolution of the issues in Afghanistan.

In the declaration at the end of its 16th meeting, the BRICS leaders emphasised on the basic rights of Afghan citizens, including the rights of women, girls, and various ethnic groups in the country.

The statement stressed on the need to provide immediate and uninterrupted humanitarian aid to the Afghan people, calling on the Taliban to lift the ban on girls' education in secondary and higher education.

The BRICS leaders also said that "more visible and verifiable actions must be taken in Afghanistan" to ensure that Afghan soil is not being used by terrorists.

"We support Afghanistan as an independent, united and peaceful country free from terrorism, war and narcotics," the statement reads in part.

BRICS said that it emphasises on the primary and effective role of regional platforms and Afghanistan's neighbouring countries in resolving the country's problem, while welcoming the efforts of regional initiatives to facilitate the settlement of Afghanistan.

The 16th BRICS summit with the participation of 36 countries and six international organisations began on Tuesday, October 22, in Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation, and will continue until Thursday, October 24.

Heads of delegations from member states including Russia, Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and Iran are attending the meeting.

The group expanded with the membership of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Ethiopia at the beginning of this year.