New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday issued a firm clarification denying any involvement in a controversial press interaction held in the national capital, where Afghanistan’s Taliban-appointed Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, addressed journalists, without a single woman present in the room.
The event, held on Friday in New Delhi, drew sharp criticism from journalists, civil society, and opposition leaders after it emerged that female reporters had been excluded from the press briefing. Several women journalists reported being barred from attending the event, sparking a debate about freedom of the press and gender representation—especially when hosted on Indian soil.
Responding to the growing backlash, the MEA said in a statement, “The Ministry of External Affairs had no role or involvement in the press interaction held by the Afghan Taliban representative. The event was organized independently, and the Government of India was not associated with it in any way.”
Prominent journalists took to social media to express their outrage. India Today’s Geeta Mohan called the exclusion “unacceptable”, while senior journalist Nayanima Basu questioned how such discrimination could take place “in the heart of the capital city.” Basu further criticized Indian authorities for allowing an event that clearly violated principles of equality and press freedom.
Political figures also condemned the move. Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed wrote, “Who are they to dictate terms to our nation, that too, on our own soil, and impose their discriminatory agenda against women?” Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra went a step further, suggesting male journalists should have walked out of the press conference in protest.
The controversy comes at a sensitive time diplomatically, as India recently announced the reopening of its embassy in Kabul, shut since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. In a significant shift, Taliban officials have said they will also send diplomats to New Delhi, signaling warming ties despite continued international criticism over the group’s treatment of women.
Although the Taliban has established some diplomatic relations with countries like China, the UAE, and, more recently, Russia, it remains largely ostracized globally, particularly due to its policies restricting women’s rights, including bans on female education and employment.
The exclusion of women journalists from an event held in India has now intensified scrutiny over how such engagements are managed—and what role, if any, the Indian government should play in upholding its democratic values, especially in diplomatic interactions hosted within its borders.
With the MEA distancing itself from the event, pressure is mounting on officials to ensure that future engagements involving foreign delegations, especially those with a track record of gender discrimination, reflect the constitutional principles of equality and press freedom.
