Afghan clerics vow loyalty to Taliban, but no word on girls' schooling

Thousands of Afghan clerics pledged loyalty to the Taliban, but ended a three-day meeting without recommendations on how the hardline Islamist group should govern the crisis-hit country.

The men-only gathering was called to rubber-stamp the Taliban's rule, and ahead of the meeting officials said criticism would be tolerated and they could also discuss thorny issues such as secondary school education for girls.

Media were barred from the event, although speeches were broadcast on state radio -- including a rare appearance by the Taliban's reclusive supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.

Taliban officials presented the gathering as an opportunity for clerics to independently say how they wanted the country to be governed, but the meeting's final declaration was mostly a regurgitation of their own doctrine.

It called for allegiance to Akhundzada, loyalty to the Taliban, and the complete acceptance of sharia law as the basic principle of rule.

"By the grace of God, the Islamic system has come to rule in Afghanistan," the declaration read.

"We not only strongly support it, but will also defend it. We consider this to be the national and religious duty of the entire nation."

Since returning to power in August, the Taliban's harsh interpretation of sharia law has imposed severe restrictions on Afghans -- particularly women.