New Delhi is clarifying its position following a controversy over the exclusion of female journalists from a press conference hosted by Afghanistan’s Taliban Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has officially stated that India ‘had no role or involvement’ in the media interaction that took place in the capital on Friday. This statement comes after the press conference, held at the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi after Muttaqi’s talks with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, drew significant criticism for its all-male attendance. The visit marked the first by a Taliban minister since the group’s return to power in 2021. While discussions covered vital bilateral issues such as trade, humanitarian aid, and security, the press event’s lack of inclusivity overshadowed these developments. Reports suggest that despite potential Indian recommendations for broader media participation, the Taliban delegation ultimately controlled the guest list, a move that reinforces concerns about their restrictive gender policies. During the event, Muttaqi responded to questions about Afghan women by referencing differing national customs and asserting that Afghanistan’s security has improved. The incident brings renewed international focus to the severe restrictions the Taliban has imposed on women and girls since August 2021, including bans on higher education and limitations on employment, actions widely condemned by the UN.
