Afghan woman singer back on television

A woman singer has reappeared on Afghan state-run television, apparently signalling that reformists have won a dispute with conservatives over women entertainers.
President Hamid Karzai said on Saturday it should be left to the government to decide whether women could be shown singing on television and hours later Kabul Television aired a tape of a performance by 1980s star Ustad Mahwash.
"The moderates have won. They are the winners of the game," a senior Afghan government official said on Sunday.
The row between conservatives and moderates erupted last week after Kabul Television lifted a long-running ban on women singers and showed an old tape of Parasto, a popular woman singer who now lives in the West, singing without a head scarf.
But the Supreme Court, which is dominated by conservatives, protested against the broadcast and Kabul TV reimposed the ban.
Supreme Court officials were not available for comment on Sunday.