Amidst the recent clashes on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki has given a strong message to Pakistan in a press conference. He said that some special people are trying to spoil the mild situation in Pakistan, whereas the general public and many political people of Pakistan like peace. Afghanistan made it clear that it wants a peaceful solution through negotiations, but if this does not happen then it knows how to protect itself.

‘We want good relations, but will protect the borders’
Muttaki said, ‘We want good relations with Pakistan. The people and political leaders of Pakistan love peace and want peace with Afghanistan. But there are some special people in Pakistan who are trying to spoil the situation. He said that Afghanistan will remain alert regarding the security of its borders. After the operation that took place last night, Qatar and Saudi Arabia said that the war should stop. The war has stopped from our side. We want good relations with all countries and want all countries to protect their borders.

‘Today there is peace in Afghanistan after 40 years of war’- Muttaki
The Foreign Minister said that Afghanistan has established peace after decades of war. He said, ‘We have seen war for 40 years. But today Afghanistan is free and standing on its own feet. No major incident has happened here in the last 4 years. Everyone is united and our policy is ‘zero tension policy’. He further said, ‘We want a solution through talks first. If this does not happen then we know how to protect ourselves.

On the question of human rights, the Foreign Minister said that the rights of all men and women are protected in Afghanistan. If anyone has any problem he can go to the government. Be it a man or a woman, there is no restriction on it. We have forgiven all the atrocities that happened in 49 years. Those who killed our people, burnt their dead bodies, also forgave them – so that they realize that this is everyone’s homeland.

He claimed that under the Islamic system no one can commit atrocities, big or small. He said, ‘I myself travel by motorcycle in Kabul. Today there is such peace that business is benefiting and businessmen are coming from neighboring countries.

Confirmation of operation conducted on Pakistan
The Afghan Foreign Minister said that a ‘retaliatory operation’ was carried out by Afghanistan last night. Our operation achieved its target. We took full care that there should be no harm to common citizens.

‘TTP has no base in Afghanistan’
Rejecting Pakistan’s allegations, the Foreign Minister said, ‘TTP has no center in Afghanistan. Before our success, when the Pakistani government had conducted operations in the tribal areas, some tribal people had come to Afghanistan. But they do not have any permanent base in Afghanistan. He said that the Afghan-Pak border (Durand Line) is a 2,500 km long and inaccessible mountainous area. ‘Neither Genghis Khan nor anyone else could control this area. If it has to be controlled then it can be done only with gentleness and peace, not with force.

‘Pakistan needs to improve its internal situation’
Afghan Foreign Minister said that Pakistan is technologically ahead, yet it is not able to establish peace in its areas. Pakistan needs to improve its internal situation. There are many countries in our neighborhood but they have no complaints.

#WATCH Delhi | Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi says, “There is no presence of TTP in Afghanistan now. Even prior to our return to Kabul, the Pakistan military carried out operations in tribal areas that led to the displacement of a large number of people. The US… pic.twitter.com/BNwetAC9Bl

— ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2025

Reply on embassy flag controversy

On the flag controversy at the embassy, ​​the Foreign Minister said, ‘We carried out jihad under this flag and achieved success. That’s why we have put up this flag. The owner of the house knows how to take care of the house. Now our government has complete control in Afghanistan, not the previous government.

Statement on relations with India
On India-Taliban relations, he said, ‘Till now the Indian government has not given formal recognition to the Taliban government. But just as there is peace for everyone in Afghanistan, similarly security will be ensured for the people and diplomats of India also. Relations with India are gradually improving in the last four years and new diplomats will be sent.

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.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Taliban government of Afghanistan, did not allow women journalists to attend a press conference held in Delhi. Bangladesh’s exiled writer Taslima Nasreen has given a sharp reaction to this incident. She described the Taliban as ‘non-believers of human rights’ of women and also raised questions on male journalists.

What did Taslima Nasreen say?
Taslima Nasreen wrote on X- ‘Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki came to India and held a press conference. However, he did not allow any female journalist to participate in it. In the Islam that the Taliban follows, women are expected only to stay at home, bear children and serve their husbands and children. These anti-women people do not want to see women anywhere outside the home – neither in schools, nor at the workplace.

He further wrote- ‘They refuse to give human rights to women because they do not consider women as human beings. If male journalists had any conscience, they would have boycotted this press conference. Any nation based on disgusting misogyny is a barbaric nation and no civilized nation should recognize such a regime.

India distanced itself from the press conference
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified in this entire matter that it had nothing to do with the press conference. The press conference was held at the Afghanistan Embassy, ​​following the bilateral meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Muttaki. No joint press briefing was held after the meeting of the two ministers.

Only male journalists got entry
Only male journalists were allowed to attend the press conference of the Afghan Foreign Minister, which spread outrage across the country at political and social levels. During this, Muttaki talked on issues like India-Afghanistan relations, trade, humanitarian aid and security cooperation.

The condition of women is worst under Taliban rule
The situation of women in Afghanistan has continuously deteriorated since the Taliban came to power in August 2021. According to the United Nations, Afghan women and girls are currently facing the world’s most serious women’s rights crisis. Women are increasingly being excluded from schools, universities and workplaces, almost eradicating them from public life.

P Chidambaram also reacted
Congress leader P Chidambaram also expressed displeasure over this incident. He said, ‘I am shocked that women journalists were kept out of the press conference. In my personal opinion, male journalists should have left the press conference at that time.

First high-level visit of Taliban government to India
This visit of Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki will continue till October 16. This is the first high-level visit of the Afghan government to India after the Taliban came to power in August 2021.

Political turmoil has intensified in India regarding the press conference of Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki in New Delhi. In fact, women journalists were not invited to this press conference, after which opposition leaders raised questions on the central government. Responding to this, Muttaki said that ‘we had not forbidden women’ and expressed hope that relations between India and Afghanistan would improve.

‘We did not stop women’- Muttaki
The Afghan Foreign Minister said, ‘We will try to improve relations. The number of visits should increase and the situation should improve. We are people of the same area, we can speak each other’s language. We did not refuse women. Muttaki said that the purpose of his coming to India is to meet Darul Uloom Deoband, the Indian government and political people. He said that in future, efforts will be made to strengthen trade and political relations between India and Afghanistan.

Why were women journalists not called?
This press conference took place at the Afghanistan Embassy in Delhi, a few hours after Muttaki’s conversation with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The Indian side had suggested including women journalists as well, but it is believed that the list of journalists was made by Taliban officials. The Indian government said that the Ministry of External Affairs had no role in this program.

Opposition targeted PM Modi
Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, P Chidambaram, and TMC MP Mahua Moitra surrounded the central government regarding this incident. Priyanka Gandhi wrote on social media, ‘Prime Minister Modi ji, please tell why women journalists were removed from the press conference of Taliban representative in India? If your words on women’s rights are true, then how was this insult allowed to happen?

Rahul Gandhi said – ‘When you allow women journalists to be kept out of the stage, you are showing every woman in India that you cannot stand up for them.’ P Chidambaram appealed to the journalists that in such cases, male journalists should also have come out and protested. Mahua Moitra also said that religious freedom is strict in India, but a foreign fundamentalist is being allowed to discriminate against women – this is a contradiction.

Questions on women’s rights avoided
On a direct question asked regarding women’s rights, Muttaki avoided answering and said that every country has its own traditions. The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has long been accused of limiting women’s rights.