Taliban bans female students from Afghan universities, US calls it 'deplorable decision'

Taliban has banned female students from private and public universities in Afghanistan effective immediately and until further notice. 

The directive came from the Taliban government spokesman on Tuesday.

This is despite the Taliban promising a more moderate and softer rule respecting rights for women and minorities when they came back to power after the US forces left Kabul last year.

However, what followed was a series of crackdown measures on women's rights and freedoms by the hardline Islamists. 

Taliban had recently banned girls from middle school and high school and restricted women from most employment. 

They also ordered them to wear head-to-toe clothing in public. Women have also been restricted from using gyms and public baths.

The move evoked widespread condemnation with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling it another broken promise from the Taliban and a very troubling move.

Many regional experts believe this decision will drive away potential international donors amid the Taliban's desperate attempt to win recognition.

The international community has urged Taliban leaders to reopen schools and give women their right to public space.

The university ban comes weeks after Afghan girls took their high school graduation exams, even though they have been banned from classrooms since the Taliban took over the country last year.