The Pakistan ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram, has apologised for linking the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls to a “peculiar cultural perspective of the Pashtun culture.” His remarks at a UN meeting caused fury among many on social media.
Speaking in New York on Wednesday, the Pakistani diplomat said, From our perspective, the restrictions that have been put by the Afghan interim government, flow not so much from a religious perspective as from a peculiar cultural perspective of the Pashtun culture, which requires women to be kept at home. And this is a peculiar, distinctive cultural reality of Afghanistan which has not changed for hundreds of years.”
Responding to the backlash to comments caused, Mr Akram told Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper that he “regrets if his remarks (were) misunderstood or hurt anyone’s feelings. There was no disrespect meant to Pashtun culture which is highly progressive and deserves full respect across the world”.
Mr Akram said he was referring to the “peculiar perspective of a small minority” and “there was no disrespect meant to Pashtun culture which is highly progressive and deserves full respect across the world”.
The Pakistani diplomat repeated his apology in a tweet on Friday.
A spokesperson of Pakistan’s foreign ministry that Islamabad had sought clarification on the context of the comment.
“Pakistan is a country that accords equal status to women. It also respects its commitments under international agreements and conventions,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying. “We believe that Islam grants equal access to education and women rights and … we have also said that the enterprising and innovative Afghan women should not be deprived of their rights to progress and to follow their dreams,” the spokesperson said.
