Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, reiterated the country’s “consistent” stance on women’s right to education, following the Taliban’s latest restrictions on women in Afghanistan.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Baloch emphasized that Pakistan’s Constitution guarantees educational rights for women and expressed hope for similar rights for Afghan women.
“Every man and woman has a right to education,” Baloch stated, reaffirming Islamabad’s position on gender equality in education.
Her comments come in response to new Taliban policies in Afghanistan, which have further curtailed the freedoms of women and girls, including bans on their public appearances without full coverage and restrictions on their voices in public life. These moves have drawn widespread international criticism.
Baloch also addressed concerns about terrorist activity in Afghanistan, noting that the issue is not exclusive to Pakistan. She pointed to a United Nations report that highlights the presence of terrorist organizations in the region, involving neighboring countries as well. Pakistan, she said, has repeatedly provided evidence of terror groups operating from Afghanistan.
This comes amid ongoing tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban, with Pakistan accusing the Afghan government of supporting the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The Taliban, however, have denied these claims, asserting that the TTP is an internal issue for Pakistan to resolve.
