By Admin 
Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has announced to organize another press conference in New Delhi on Sunday (12 October 2025). This time he has also invited women journalists. This step has been taken after the severe criticism that he had to face for keeping out women journalists during the last press conference held on October 10. When pictures of that program surfaced on social media, many Indian journalist organizations, women’s rights activists and opposition leaders called it a shameful example of gender discrimination.
Only male journalists were included in Muttaki’s first press conference held in Delhi on 10 October. Women journalists, despite following the dress code, were not allowed to enter the venue. After this incident, the Editors Guild of India and the Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC) jointly condemned this decision. Both organizations issued statements calling it extremely discriminatory and unacceptable. He also said that such discrimination cannot be justified under any diplomatic privilege or Vienna Convention. After this protest, Muttaki’s team has now sent new invitations for Sunday’s press conference and called it an inclusive event.
India clarified that it had no role in organizing the event.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement on Saturday making it clear that the Government of India had no role in the press conference held in New Delhi. The ministry said that the invitations to the journalists were sent by the Afghan Consul General in Mumbai and the event took place in the Afghan Embassy premises, which does not come under India’s jurisdiction. MEA also said that this program was completely organized by the Afghan side and there was no interference of India in it.
Increasing restrictions on women under Taliban rule
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has imposed many strict restrictions on women since taking power in 2021. Women are increasingly being barred from working, pursuing higher education and participating in social activities. Recently, the Taliban has not only removed women from many jobs, but has also banned books written by women authors in universities. Along with this, 18 courses related to gender studies, human rights and development have also been closed. Due to these incidents, criticism of Taliban is continuously increasing at the international level.
Also read: Shama Mohammad got angry on the no entry of women journalists in the PC of Afghanistan Foreign Minister, said a big thing about Taliban.