Afghan Foreign Minister Bars Female Journalists From Delhi Press Conference, Sparks Criticism in India
New Delhi, 11th October 2025: Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi barred female journalists from attending his press conference at the Afghan Embassy in Delhi on Friday, allowing only male reporters to enter and ask questions. The move drew sharp criticism from Indian political leaders and raised questions about India’s response to gender discrimination by visiting dignitaries.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addressed the issue on Saturday, questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stance. “Women journalists were removed from the press conference of a visiting Taliban representative. PM Modi, please clarify your position on this incident,” she said. She added, “If your views on women’s rights are not mere lip service, then explain how some of our country’s most capable women were allowed to be disrespected in India, even though women are the backbone and pride of the country.”
The press conference, attended by around 20 journalists, featured only men. Media reports indicate that Taliban officials accompanying Muttaqi decided which journalists could attend. It remains unclear whether Indian authorities were informed in advance that female journalists would be excluded.
The incident highlights ongoing restrictions imposed on women in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained power on August 15, 2021. Under Taliban rule, women face multiple bans, including restrictions on girls attending school, participating in sports, speaking publicly, and appearing in public without covering their faces.
Former Home Minister and Congress leader P. Chidambaram also voiced criticism on X, stating, “I am surprised that female journalists were not included in the press conference of Afghanistan’s Amir Khan Muttaqi. I think male journalists should have walked out when they realized that their female colleagues were not invited.”
Muttaqi is on a week-long visit to India, which began on October 9, engaging in diplomatic meetings aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. The exclusion of women journalists, however, has overshadowed parts of the visit and sparked debate over gender equality in diplomatic settings.
