Three NGOs suspend Afghan operations after Taliban ban on female staff

Three big international aid agencies, including Save the Children, said they were suspending their humanitarian programs in Afghanistan in response to the Taliban-run administration's order to stop female employees from working, Report informs, citing The Express Tribune.

The administration on Saturday ordered all local and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to send female staff home until further notice. It said the move, which was condemned globally, was justified because some women had not adhered to the Taliban's interpretation of the Islamic dress code for women.

Three NGOs - Save the Children, Norwegian Refugee Council, and CARE International - said in a joint statement that they were suspending their programs as they awaited clarity on the administration's order.

A spokesperson for the Taliban administration, Zabihullah Mujahid, hit back at the criticism, saying all institutions wanting to operate in Afghanistan are obliged to comply with the rules of the country.