MEA reacts after women journalists barred from Taliban minister's presser: 'No involvement'…'

The press conference, which took place at the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi, has triggered fierce backlash from political leaders.

Updated on: Oct 11, 2025, 15:50:45 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

A diplomatic visit by Afghanistan's acting Taliban Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, to India has sparked a political and gender rights controversy, after women journalists were allegedly barred from attending a press conference addressed by him in New Delhi on Thursday.

The Taliban's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, is on a week-long visit to India, from October 9 to October 16. (AFP)

Former union minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram expressed his dismay, calling the exclusion of female media personnel "shocking" and suggesting that male journalists should walk out in solidarity.

Also Read | Pakistan blames ‘Indian proxies’ in Afghanistan for terror attacks as Taliban's Muttaqi meets Jaishankar

"I am shocked that women journalists were excluded from the press conference addressed by Mr Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan. In my personal view, the male journalists should have walked out when they found that their female colleagues were excluded (or not invited)," he said in a post on X.

TMC leader Mahua Moitra also took to X to express her shock, questioning how EAM Jaishankar allowed this kind of discrimination to fester on Indian soil.

"How dare our government allow Taliban foreign minister Amir Muttaqi to exclude women journalists & hold a ‘male-only’ news conference on Indian soil with full protocol? How dare EAM Jaishankar agree to this? & why did our emasculated spineless male journos remain in the room?" he wrote on X.

Also Read | Taliban FM: Kabul soil will not be used to target other nations

Taking a harder line, Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram directly accused the Modi government and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar of enabling gender-based exclusion in the name of diplomacy.

"I understand the geopolitical compulsions that force us to engage with the Taliban, but to accede to their discriminatory & plain primitive mores is outright ridiculous. It's very disappointing to note the conduct of the Ministry of External Affairs and S Jaishankar in excluding women journalists from the press briefing of the Taliban Minister," he said.

India responds

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the government had no involvement in the press interaction held on Friday by Afghanistan's Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in Delhi.

“MEA had no involvement in the press interaction held yesterday by Afghanistan's Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in Delhi,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

First Taliban visit to India since 2021 takeover

The Taliban's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, is on a week-long visit to India, from October 9 to October 16. This is the first high-level delegation from Kabul to India since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021.

On the first day of his visit, Muttaqi held a bilateral meeting with EAM S Jaishankar and discussed cooperative efforts to strengthen ties between the two nations.

India also announced several new projects for Afghanistan as part of its ongoing healthcare cooperation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.