ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) – Members of the Afghanistan women’s soccer team and their families arrived in Pakistan after fleeing their country after the Taliban came to power, local media reported Wednesday.
It was not clear how many Afghan athletes and relatives were able to enter the neighboring country.
According to Pakistani Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, the footballers entered the country through the north-western border crossing at Torkham with valid travel documents.
“We welcome the Afghanistan women’s soccer team,” Chaudhry tweeted, offering no further details.
However, the Pakistani English-language daily The DAWN reported on Wednesday that the athletes received emergency humanitarian visas after the insurgents took over Kabul. The group appears to be not letting women participate in sports.
The Taliban did not comment, but an official confirmed that, following the government’s interpretation of Islam, women cannot actually be exposed to any sport in which they are exposed. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to inform the press before an official announcement by authorities.
Last week, the Taliban announced an all-male interim government, with veterans from their conservative 1990s tenure and the 20-year battle against the US-led coalition. It seems unlikely that under these circumstances the international community will provide them with the support they need to avoid economic collapse.