US, Sept. 25 -- A girl who was 12 when the Taliban returned to power in 2021 is now around 17. Even if schools reopen today, she cannot recover the years of learning and growth already lost.

The same is true for countless young Afghans who have spent this period without opportunities for employment, professional development, and academic growth. For them, waiting is not neutral; every passing year carries a lasting cost.

For five years, Afghans have waited for girls' secondary schools to reopen and for diplomacy to produce political progress. But young Afghans cannot put their education and careers on hold indefinitely.

Recent developments indicate that this wait may continue. In August, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi call...