The students in tears after the Taliban stopped school - hours after the start

In some schools, girls are said to have been stopped at the door while others were asked to leave the classrooms.

- Suddenly we were told to leave the place until a new order was issued, says Azimi who returned to year 12 at Zarghona Girls School in the capital Kabul.

- What have we done wrong?

Why do women and girls have to endure this?

I ask the Islamic Emirate to open our lessons, she tells AFP.

Has promised schooling

Since the Taliban took control in August, girls and women aged six and up have been banned from attending most schools.

The Taliban banned girls from going to school the last time they ruled the country in 1996-2001.

This time, the Taliban regime has promised change and younger girls have been able to go to school since last autumn.

Why the Taliban turned around is unclear, but one of the spokespersons, Inamullah Samangan, confirms to AFP that girls have been sent home.

- Yes, that's right, he says.

There are some exceptions.

In some places, such as in Kabul and in the province of Panjshir, education is provided for both boys and girls, reports AFP.