On February 18, 2009, the president of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari signed a deal with the Taliban to implement Shariah law (Islamic religious law) in some parts of Pakistan banning all girls from school.

With more than 28,000 US troops still fighting “Operation Enduring Freedom” this is a startling piece of information. As our brave military men and women endure what is to be the 8th year of war the re-emergence of the Taliban is threatening some of Afghanistan’s greatest achievements in the post-Taliban era.

These achievements, education of female students and the opening of over 200 schools, are at grave risk. More than 90 schools have been forced to close because of both threats and actual attacks including torched classrooms and the kidnapping and murdering of teachers. Last November men on motorcycles sprayed acid on 11 female students and four teachers as they headed to school.

Currently the only remaining schools for girls are in the provincial capital Lashkargah, where the principal of one school, Jamila Niazi, constantly endures threats to her life.

Yet in an amazing show of strength, determination and an indescribable amount of bravery these girls and teachers keep coming (almost 6,000 of them to Niazi’s school alone). They say it’s worth the risk.

District schools supervisor Sayed Gol says although intimidation and threats remain more of a rarity in Lashkargah he fears with the Taliban continuing to strengthen this won’t last long. The Taliban returns to villages and towns after Western troops leave and once again wage war. To him, things have in many ways only gotten worse.

Taliban spokesmen insist they are not targeting any Afghan schools. Except, they add, for those that teach Christian values or serve American interests. Yet with the signing of the deal in February and the continued attacks it is clear this is untrue.

Nearly half of the country’s children aren’t even attending classes, most of them in the Taliban-rife south, says Afghanistan’s education minister, Farouq Wardak. Education officials say more often than not, girls in Kandahar and the surrounding provinces simply stay home. With a war torn country and few options this is a bleak outlook.

Yet the determination of these teachers and children should serve as both a lesson and as inspiration.

When asked if she would stop attending school, Shamsia, an acid burn victim responded: “Why wouldn’t I want to come to school? I want our country to persevere. I have to do something for my country, I must go to school.”

Truly courageous words for young women and girls in any country fighting for their rights.