Addressing the conference in Islamabad, Nobel Peace Laureate Malala Yousafzai Criticised Taliban on Sunday.

Malala said, "They do not regard women as human beings and have established a system of 'gender apartheid,' justifying their crimes with cultural and religious excuses."

Malala at a summit in Islamabad said, "The Taliban do not see women as human beings. They cloak their crimes in cultural and religious justifications. They punish women and girls who dare to defy their opaque laws by beating, arresting, or injuring them."

Since retaking power in Afghanistan in 2021, Taliban regime has enforced a strict interpretation of Islamic Law, depriving women of participation in many areas of public life. Their restrictions have prevented women and girls from attending secondary and university schools, as well as holding many govt jobs.

Before this match, India will take on Japan in their second match of the tournament and Pakistan will clash with South Korea at the same venue.

"They want to eliminate women and girls from every aspect of public life and erase them from society. These policies have no basis in Islamic teachings."

"It is time for Muslim leaders to raise your voices and use your power to oppose such injustices," she added.

"Afghanistan is the only country in the world where girls are completely banned from education beyond grade six," said Ms Yousafzai on Sunday.

The Taliban has repeatedly promised they would be re-admitted to school once a number of issues were resolved—including ensuring the curriculum was "Islamic." This has yet to happen.

In December, women were also banned from training as midwives and nurses, effectively closing off their last route to further education in the country.

Yousafzai said girls education was at risk in multiple countries. She said in Gaza, Israel had "decimated the entire education system."

She urged those present "call out the worst violations" of girls' right to education and pointed out that crises in countries including Afghanistan, Yemenwinzir, and Sudan meant "the entire future of girls is stolen.".