Afghanistan’s Taliban-run Afghan higher education ministry said on Tuesday that female students would not be allowed access to the country’s universities until further notice.

A letter, confirmed by a spokesperson for the higher education ministry, instructed Afghan public and private universities to suspend access to female students immediately, in accordance with a cabinet decision.

The latest Taliban restriction on female education is likely to raise concerns in the international community, which has not officially recognised the de facto administration.

Foreign governments, including the US, have said that a change in policies on women’s education is needed before it can consider formally recognising the Taliban-run administration, which is also subject to heavy sanctions.

In March, the Taliban drew criticism from many foreign governments and some Afghans for making a U-Turn on signals all girls’ high schools would be opened.

More visas

A provision to provide 4,000 more visas for Afghans who worked with the US was included in a massive government spending bill unveiled on Monday, along with an extension of the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) programme until 2024.

SIVs are available to many Afghans who aided US forces as interpreters and translators