Taliban official on girls' schools, services, NGOs

In the southern Afghan province of Helmand life is returning to normal with government offices continuing to carry out their daily business. Helmand, one of the bloodiest battle grounds between the Taliban and international forces, was captured by the Taliban on August 13. Since then a new governor has been appointed. Abdul Ahad, who was once fighting the former government forces, now sits behind the desk running the province where he lived for many years in hiding while fighting American and British forces and their allies. He said "all governmental departments" had remained functional from the day the Taliban took control of the area and all the departments were continuing to provide services. The Taliban have said women will be able to continue their education and work outside the home, rights denied to women when the militants were last in power. They have also vowed to impose Sharia, or Islamic law, without providing specifics. Ahad said in the province girls would be able to attend school under certain conditions but he could not accept the current education system "set up by foreigners".