The press conference held at the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi after bilateral discussions between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, faced severe criticism after female journalists said they were denied entry. What was supposed to be a diplomatic meeting soon became a tale of exclusion, as no woman reporter was permitted inside to pose queries.
Afghan spokesperson defends absence of female journalists
On Saturday, an Afghan Taliban spokesperson explained that the lack of women journalists at the press meet addressed by Taliban leader and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi was "unintentional," News18 reported. The spokesperson further said that Muttaqi would meet women journalists at his office in Kabul on a regular basis. Though it seems the remark was addressed to female reporters from Afghanistan, who are normally required to strictly adhere to a dress code when meeting Taliban officials, the remark had little effect to assuage criticism. "Muttaqi meets women in his office in Kabul regularly. I myself do interviews with female journalists," the spokesperson said to News18.
Since it seized power in August 2021, the so-called "Taliban 2.0" government has instituted what the UN calls the globe's most extreme crisis for women's rights. Instead of relaxing restrictions, the Taliban have incrementally tightened limits on women's lives in the public and private spheres, in effect excluding them from active presence in society.
Political outrage mounts
The snub brought instant indignation. Criticism came from all over the nation, and foremost among them were Congress leaders, who dubbed it as an “insult” to India's women journalists.” Asking PM Narendra Modi Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took to X, saying, “Prime Minister @narendramodi ji, please clarify your position on the removal of female journalists from the press conference of the representative of the Taliban on his visit to India.” She further added, “If your recognition of women’s rights isn’t just convenient posturing from one election to the other, then how has this insult to some of India’s most competent women been allowed in our country, a country whose women are its backbone and its pride.”
"I am shocked that women journalists were excluded from the press conference addressed by Mr Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan In my personal view, the men journalists should have walked out when they found that their women colleagues were excluded (or not invited) " former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram posted on X disappointedly.
MEA distances clarifying ‘no involvement’
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was quick to clarify it had “no involvement” in the press interaction. Yet, the optics of a foreign dignitary holding a press conference in India without a single woman present left a stark impression. The incident, coming at the start of Muttaqi’s week-long visit, has stirred political debate and reignited conversations about gender inclusion in international diplomacy.
