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.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not including women journalists in the press conference organized by Afghanistan Foreign Minister Aamir Khan Muttaki in Delhi on Friday (October 10). Rahul said that when the Prime Minister remains silent on such discrimination, it gives a message of weakness and insensitivity towards the women of the entire country.

Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter, “Modi ji, when you allow women journalists to be thrown out of any public event, you are telling every woman in the country that you are weak in standing up for them. In our country, women have the right to equal participation in every field. Your silence on such discrimination exposes the hollowness of your slogans of ‘women power’.”

Mr. Modi, when you allow the exclusion of women journalists from a public forum, you are telling every woman in India that you are too weak to stand up for them.

In our country, women have the right to equal participation in every space. Your silence in the face of such… https://t.co/FyaxxCteK6

—Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 11, 2025

What did the Foreign Ministry say?

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified that the Ministry had no interference or role in the press conference organized by the Afghan Foreign Minister in Delhi on October 10. The ministry also said that it was not MEA’s decision to not include women journalists in this press interaction.

Opposition raised questions

Political turmoil in the country intensified after the news of women journalists not being included in the press conference of the Afghan Foreign Minister. Former Home Minister P. Chidambaram said that when women journalists were kept out, male journalists should have immediately staged a walkout in protest. Chidambaram wrote on

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi as to why the government allowed this humiliating situation. He wrote, “Prime Minister Modi ji, please clarify why women journalists were removed from the Taliban minister’s press conference? Are your claims of women’s rights just election slogans?”

TMC MP Mahua Moitra called it an “insult to every Indian woman” and said, “The government has insulted every woman in the country by allowing the Taliban minister to keep out women journalists. This is a shameful and spineless move.”

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Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi as to why women journalists were excluded from the press conference during the visit of Taliban representative to India. He said in one of his tweets on Priyanka reminded that the women of India are the backbone and pride of the country.

Priyanka Gandhi wrote, “Prime Minister, please clarify what is your position regarding the removal of women journalists from the Taliban representative’s press conference. Women’s rights are not just election postering.”

Prime Minister @narendramodi ji, please clarify your position on the removal of female journalists from the press conference of the representative of the Taliban on his visit to India.

If your recognition of women’s rights isn’t just convenient posturing from one election to…

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) October 11, 2025

What did Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha say?

Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha said the move has not only affected India’s moral and diplomatic standing, but is also a serious blow to India’s long-standing commitment to press freedom, gender justice and equality.

Manoj Kumar Jha said, “This is not just a formal lapse, but a symbolic compromise of India’s long-standing commitments to equality and women’s participation. This incident is disappointing and politically blind for the world’s largest democratic power and a country that promotes women’s participation.”

She also said that such a move sends a wrong message to Indian women and the global community that convenience and immediate benefits can be given priority over principles.

What was the matter?

Let us tell you that no female journalist was allowed to attend the press conference held on Friday, after which this policy of Taliban was sharply criticized on social media. Many journalists and social media users gave their reaction on this matter.

Read this also-

MEA’s first reaction on No Entry of women journalists in the press conference of Afghan Foreign Minister Muttaki, know what was said?

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi as to why women journalists were excluded from the press conference during the visit of Taliban representative to India. He said in one of his tweets on Priyanka reminded that the women of India are the backbone and pride of the country.

Priyanka Gandhi wrote, “Prime Minister, please clarify what is your position regarding the removal of women journalists from the Taliban representative’s press conference. Women’s rights are not just election postering.”

Prime Minister @narendramodi ji, please clarify your position on the removal of female journalists from the press conference of the representative of the Taliban on his visit to India.

If your recognition of women’s rights isn’t just convenient posturing from one election to…

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) October 11, 2025

What did Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha say?

Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha said the move has not only affected India’s moral and diplomatic standing, but is also a serious blow to India’s long-standing commitment to press freedom, gender justice and equality.

Manoj Kumar Jha said, “This is not just a formal lapse, but a symbolic compromise of India’s long-standing commitments to equality and women’s participation. This incident is disappointing and politically blind for the world’s largest democratic power and a country that promotes women’s participation.”

She also said that such a move sends a wrong message to Indian women and the global community that convenience and immediate benefits can be given priority over principles.

What was the matter?

Let us tell you that no female journalist was allowed to attend the press conference held on Friday, after which this policy of Taliban was sharply criticized on social media. Many journalists and social media users gave their reaction on this matter.

Read this also-

MEA’s first reaction on No Entry of women journalists in the press conference of Afghan Foreign Minister Muttaki, know what was said?

There has been an uproar over the press conference organized by Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki in Delhi, because no woman was allowed to attend the program. The Taliban in Afghanistan is known for the restrictions imposed on women, which prevent them from working. Apart from this, the human rights record of Taliban and the possibility of terrorist groups getting safe haven in Afghanistan are some of the reasons why India is very cautious about its relations with Taliban.

Muttaki’s talks with S Jaishankar in Delhi on Friday (October 10, 2025) are being seen as a major development in India-Taliban relations, with India announcing that the Kabul-based technical mission will be upgraded to an embassy, ​​which has been welcomed by the Afghanistan Foreign Minister.

Women stopped from attending Muttaki’s press conference

S Jaishankar said that India is fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan. I am happy to announce the grant of embassy status to the Technical Mission of India. However, women were barred from attending the press conference organized by Muttaqi at the Afghanistan Embassy in the afternoon. Many journalists expressed their anger on social media and also pointed out that all the women journalists had respected the dress code.

What did Muttaki say about Lashkar and Jaish?

Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister said during the press conference that his country does not give any space to terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, which have carried out several attacks on India, and appealed to Pakistan to do the same. Apparently referring to Pakistan, he said, “Not a single one of them is in Afghanistan. Not even an inch of land is under their control in the country. Other countries should also take action against such terrorist groups, like Afghanistan did for peace.”

Holding Pakistan responsible for the recent attacks in the country, Muttaki said that no one should have any problem with peace in the country. He said that Afghanistan sees India as a close friend. Afghanistan wants relations based on mutual respect, trade and people-to-people ties.

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