UNESCO: Afghanistan to Face Disaster in  Education for Generations

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) confirmed that Afghanistan faces the risk of a setback to the course of two decades of educational gains for children, especially girls, in light of the possibility of new violence erupting with the return of Taliban rule.

The number of internally displaced people increases the risk of educational losses among children and a generational disaster that will negatively affect the sustainable development of the country for years.

In a related context, US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, stressed that the Taliban movement should gain its legitimacy from the international community, following consultations with US allies on how to build a united front against the new government in Afghanistan.

"The Taliban are looking for international legitimacy," Blinken told reporters at the US military base in Ramstein, Germany.

He stressed that all legitimacy, all support, must be earned.

Blinken's remarks came during a press conference following a virtual meeting that included ministers from 20 countries to discuss the Afghan crisis.

On his part, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who said that the international community expects the Taliban to respect human rights, including women's rights, allow humanitarian aid to arrive, and allow those who wish to leave the country to travel.

Maas said the talks with other foreign ministers represented a "starting point for international coordination" on how to deal with the Taliban.

Among the countries that participated in the virtual meeting, European allies and Pakistan, the historical supporter of the "Taliban."

Both Blinken and Maas criticized the interim government announced in Afghanistan on Tuesday, which has no women or non-Taliban members, while its interior minister is wanted by the United States on terrorism charges.

Blinken said the interim government would be judged "based on its actions", and his German counterpart added that he was "not optimistic".

The White House said that the United States does not intend to recognize the "Taliban" government in Afghanistan. "This is an interim government," White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters. "Nobody in this administration, not the president, nor anyone on the national security team, would suggest that the Taliban is a respected member of the global community.