In a statement, the ministry said the government had been prepared to aid Afghanistan in terms of healthcare and humanitarian assistance.

“The ministry’s commitment (to help Afghanistan) is also in line with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s statement last year that the country is prepared to increase cooperation with Afghanistan.

“And the right to an education cannot be denied. Malaysia is committed to upholding the right of women and girls to have access to education,” it said.

The ministry was responding to DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng who had questioned its decision to host officials from Afghanistan’s education ministry earlier this month.

The Bagan MP said the move was of great concern considering the controversial policies of the Taliban-led government on women’s education.

The education ministry said the working visit by the delegation from its Afghanistan counterpart had followed advice from the foreign ministry.

It said other agencies and ministries were also roped in for security vetting and monitoring until the conclusion of the programme.

It said it had given the officials an overview of Malaysia’s education system, including the education of women and girls.

“We showed them what an inclusive education system consists of, with a focus on improving access and equity regardless of socioeconomic status, gender, ethnicity, and geography,” it said.

According to the ministry, the Afghan delegation had wanted to make Malaysia a point of reference for best practices in terms of developing education policies, especially on training and co-curriculum.

Afghanistan is the only country in the world that does not allow girls and women to attend secondary school and university.

In March last year, Anwar said Malaysia was ready to cooperate and improve ties with the Afghanistan government under Taliban rule.

However, he said Malaysia stood firm on the issue of women’s education and was of the opinion that their right to education must not be denied.