Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has addressed the exclusion of women journalists from his initial press conference in New Delhi, labeling it as unintentional and a result of a “technical issue.” During his week-long visit to India, the Taliban leader received significant backlash after his earlier media session included only male reporters. The Editors Guild of India and the Indian Women’s Press Corps criticized the incident as “highly discriminatory,” dismissing any diplomatic rationale. In light of the escalating criticism, Muttaqi’s team sent out new invitations for a second press event on Sunday, this time welcoming all media representatives.
In response to the uproar, Muttaqi explained that the first conference was arranged on short notice with a limited invitee list and emphasized that there was no intention to exclude anyone. He remarked, “No one’s rights, whether men’s or women’s, should ever be denied.” On Friday, he met with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to discuss trade, connectivity through Chabahar port, stalled development initiatives, and the potential return of Afghan detainees. He also mentioned possible student exchange programs and forthcoming flights between Amritsar and Afghanistan.
Addressing international criticism regarding the Taliban’s treatment of women, Muttaqi asserted that female education continues in parts of Afghanistan, stating, “Education is not haram.” He refuted claims of instability, maintaining that Afghanistan is now “safe and peaceful.” Meanwhile, the Indian government distanced itself from the Taliban event, clarifying that it did not organize the earlier press conference. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, accused the government of permitting gender discrimination on Indian soil. This visit marks Muttaqi’s first official trip to India since the Taliban took control in 2021, as the regime seeks to mend ties with regional partners amid global condemnation of its policies towards women and civil liberties.