Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has described the exclusion of women journalists from his first press conference in India as a “technical issue,” following widespread criticism from journalists, opposition leaders, and civil society groups.
Muttaqi, who is currently on a week-long visit to India, faced intense backlash after all female reporters were barred from attending his initial media interaction.
“With regard to the press conference, it was on short notice, and a short list of journalists was finalized. The participation list that was presented was very specific. It was more of a technical issue,” Muttaqi said, addressing reporters at a follow-up media briefing where women journalists were later included.
“There was no other intention apart from this,” he added.
Backlash Over Gender Discrimination
The incident drew sharp condemnation from several quarters, with critics calling it a clear act of gender discrimination. Media organizations, including the Editors Guild of India and the Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC), described the incident as an affront to press freedom and gender equality.
“While diplomatic premises may claim protection under the Vienna Convention, that cannot justify blatant gender discrimination in press access on Indian soil,” the Editors Guild said in a statement.
Opposition parties also questioned the Indian government’s silence on the matter. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that it had “no involvement” in organizing the Taliban minister’s press event.
“MEA had no involvement in the press interaction held yesterday by the Afghan Foreign Minister in Delhi,” the ministry said.
Political Reactions
Several opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and P. Chidambaram, demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarify his position on the controversy.
In a post on X, Priyanka Gandhi wrote:
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, please clarify your position on the removal of female journalists from the press conference of the Taliban representative on his visit to India. How has this insult to India’s women journalists been allowed to happen in our country?”
TMC MP Mahua Moitra called the episode a “national embarrassment,” stating that the government had “dishonoured every single Indian woman” by allowing the exclusion.
P. Chidambaram went further, saying male journalists who attended the event “should have walked out in solidarity” with their female colleagues.
Course Correction Amid Outrage
In response to the criticism, Muttaqi’s team extended invitations to women journalists for a second press conference on Sunday — a move seen as an attempt to defuse the controversy.
The issue has sparked a wider debate about gender rights, press access, and India’s diplomatic stance toward the Taliban, particularly after the extremist regime’s record of restricting women’s freedoms in Afghanistan.
