This new ruling exposes, too, the miscalculations and errors being made by foreign governments that, even as the regime has stepped up the suppression of women, have recently sought to rebuild diplomatic relations with the Taliban regime. Four-and-a-half years into the Taliban’s ascent to power, more children than ever are being denied education. A total of 2.2 million girls have been excluded from secondary education, and up to 2.3 million primary school-age children are no longer attending lessons.