Pakistani Official Says Country Will Reopen Girls’ Schools

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) – Pakistan may not let Islamic militants have the final say over whether girls can go to school.

The country’s information minister says Pakistan will push to quickly reopen girls’ schools that were destroyed by militants in the lawless northwestern region of the country.

The efforts by the militants to keep girls from going to school are similar to those of the former Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

The Taliban banned education for girls, and forced most working women to return to their homes.

But reopening the schools will largely depend on restoring security in the area near the Afghan border.

The West is concerned that al-Qaida leaders have found refuge in the area.

Taliban guerrillas have been waging war against security forces there for more than a year.