Civil society institutions and women’s rights activists on Saturday said that a recent order by President Ashraf Ghani in which he ordered the establishment of the High Council of Women is only a "symbolic" move towards women’s empowerment, adding that there is a need to increase women’s presence in the government institutions on the threshold of the intra-Afghan talks.

However, the Presidential Palace has said that the creation of the High Council of Women is aimed to empower the women of Afghanistan and develop their social activities.

In this episode host Wahid Ahmadi discusses the topic with following guests:

Spozhmai Wardak, deputy minister of women's affairs

Shinkai Karokhail, a parliament member

Mahboba Saraj, a civil society activist and women's rights defender