Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, has attributed the absence of female journalists at a recent press conference to a “technical issue.” The explanation comes after significant backlash, with critics deeming the oversight an “insult to women.” Muttaqi stated that the press conference was organized on short notice with a pre-selected list of invitees, and insisted there were no ulterior motives behind the decision. This statement was made during his second press conference, held two days after the initial event at the Afghanistan Embassy sparked the controversy.
The exclusion of women reporters from the Friday presser drew sharp condemnation from opposition figures, who labeled it “unacceptable.” The event occurred shortly after Muttaqi’s meetings with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Prominent Indian politicians, including Rahul Gandhi and P Chidambaram, voiced strong criticism, with Gandhi accusing the government of allowing the exclusion and Chidambaram suggesting male journalists should have boycotted the event. Sources from the Ministry of External Affairs clarified that the Indian government had no role in organizing the press conference, emphasizing that invitations were handled by Afghanistan’s Consul General in Mumbai, and the embassy premises are outside Indian jurisdiction.
During the press conference, Muttaqi also touched upon educational opportunities in Afghanistan, noting that 2.8 million women and girls are currently attending schools and educational institutes. He acknowledged certain limitations in religious seminaries but stressed that education is not considered religiously forbidden, merely postponed. Addressing regional tensions, he reiterated Afghanistan’s desire for good relations with Pakistan but affirmed the nation’s commitment to defending its borders and interests, noting a recent military engagement had been paused following mediation efforts.