Islamic Militants Blow Up Two Girls' Schools In Pakistan

March 25, 2011

Unidentified insurgents destroyed two schools for girls in Pakistan's Khyber Agency, RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal reports.

The attacks bring the number of schools bombed in the Khyber Agency to at least 38 since a bombing campaign against schools in the region started in 2009 following a government military operation against militant groups.

The Khyber Agency holds a key route for NATO supply convoys going to Afghanistan.

Administration officials said the two schools in the Sultankhel village in the Landi Kotal subdistrict of the tribal agency were destroyed by planted bombs.

Hasham Khan Afridi, the official responsible for education in the Khyber Agency, said around 1,200 girls studied in the two schools. He said parents in many areas have stopped sending their children to school for fear of attacks on the buildings.

Most of the schools destroyed in the bomb attacks are for girls, hundreds of whom are unable to continue their education without the schools.

Islamic militants -- who believe women should not be educated -- have so far destroyed more than 700 schools in the Swat, Buner, Dir, and Peshawar districts and the tribal agencies of Bajaur and Mohmand.