An official press conference held in New Delhi by Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, has ignited widespread condemnation due to the complete absence of women journalists. This move by the Taliban delegation, occurring on Indian soil, underscores the ongoing global concerns regarding their severe gender discrimination policies.
The press briefing followed significant bilateral discussions between Muttaqi and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, covering crucial areas like trade, humanitarian assistance, and security cooperation. However, visual evidence from the event at the Afghan Embassy revealed an all-male contingent of reporters, raising immediate questions about the Taliban’s exclusionary practices.
Reports suggest that the decision to restrict media attendance to men originated from the Taliban delegation itself, overriding potential Indian recommendations to include female reporters. This has drawn sharp criticism, as the Taliban’s systematic suppression of women’s rights in Afghanistan has been a subject of intense international scrutiny and condemnation, including from the United Nations.
The blatant exclusion at the Delhi event has been labeled a clear reflection of the Taliban’s ingrained misogyny. Critics questioned the optics of welcoming a delegation with such a discriminatory record while seemingly overlooking the severe impact on Afghan women and girls. This incident has been seen as an affront to gender equality principles and India’s own democratic values.
When pressed on the status of women in Afghanistan, Minister Muttaqi offered a non-committal response, stating, “Every country has its own customs, laws, and principles, and there should be respect for them.” He also highlighted an improved security situation in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021.
The Taliban have imposed extensive restrictions on women’s freedoms, including access to education, employment, and public life, since 2021. The United Nations has previously issued warnings about the pervasive and systematic oppression of women and girls in the country. Observers have decried the press conference as an unacceptable display of discrimination facilitated under official diplomatic protocol.
This marks the first ministerial visit from the Taliban to India since their 2021 takeover. While the official agenda focused on bilateral ties, the exclusionary nature of the press conference has overshadowed these discussions, bringing global attention back to the Taliban’s human rights record, particularly concerning women.