Female Journalists Excluded from Taliban FM Amir Khan Muttaqi’s Press Conference in India
During Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India, the acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban administration held a press conference at the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi without the presence of any female journalists. Media sources, including NDTV, reported that female reporters were not allowed to enter the event, and no women were among the assembled journalists.
Reports indicate that the decision regarding the invitation of journalists was made by officials accompanying Muttaqi, and the Indian side’s proposal to include women media representatives on the guest list was rejected. The PTI news agency also reported that India sought the participation of female journalists, but this request was ignored.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs responded by stating that it had no involvement in organizing the event, with invitations issued by the Afghan Consulate General in Mumbai, which was tasked with hosting Muttaqi’s visit in New Delhi. The ministry emphasized that the Afghan Embassy on Indian soil operates independently and is not under the jurisdiction of the Indian government.
The exclusion of women from the press conference sparked widespread reactions across media outlets and social networks. Numerous journalists strongly condemned Muttaqi and his delegation’s actions while emphasizing that female reporters were following appropriate dress codes. Several Indian politicians also voiced their disapproval.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a senior leader of the Congress Party, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a clear stance on the incident. Referring to the status of women in Indian society, she described the event as an insult to women. P. Chidambaram, former Indian Home Minister, criticized the male journalists’ behavior, stating they should have walked out in solidarity with their female colleagues.
This move by the Taliban administration is another indication of their ongoing misogynistic policies, which are evident even during foreign visits. This trend has intensified concerns regarding the group’s rigid views on women’s rights and freedom of the press.
