Pakistan, April 30 -- "The world of humanity has two wings-one is women and the other men. Not until both wings are equally developed can the bird fly. Should one wing remain weak, flight is impossible." Two centuries since Abdul Baha, a Persian thinker from the 19th century, eloquently emphasized the importance of women's role in societal progress, the sad truth persists: women in many parts of the world, particularly in Afghanistan, are still denied their fundamental rights.

At the time of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban gave their word to the world for not barring Afghan women from getting an education and pursuing their careers in the fields of their choice. However, those assurances have turned out to be empty promis...