The Taliban’s interpretation of the hijab – which can range from a hair covering to a face veil or full-body covering – is unclear, and most Afghan women already wear headscarves.

Human Rights Watch blasted the guidance.

“This new order essentially moves… further in the direction of making women prisoners,” said Heather Barr, the group’s associate director of women’s rights.

It “shuts off opportunities for them to be able to move about freely, to travel to another city, to do business, (or) to be able to flee if they are facing violence in the home”, Ms Barr added.

Early this month, the Taliban issued a decree in the name of their supreme leader instructing the government to enforce women’s rights.

But it did not mention girls’ access to education.

Women’s rights were severely curtailed during the Taliban’s previous stint in power in the 1990s.

They were forced to wear the face-covering burqa garment, only allowed to leave home with a male chaperone and banned from work and education.

Respect for women’s rights has repeatedly been cited by key global donors as a condition for restoring aid.

The UN has warned that Afghanistan faces an “avalanche of hunger” this winter, estimating that 22 million citizens face “acute” food shortages.