New Delhi: Women journalists were noticeably absent during a press conference held by Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi on Friday. Attendance was limited to fewer than 20 reporters, with the Taliban officials deciding the final list of participants, sources familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity.
Indian authorities had reportedly requested a broad-based representation including women journalists, but the Taliban side did not accommodate this, and it is unclear whether they formally informed the Indian government about the exclusion.
It is rare for women reporters to be barred from official media interactions organised by foreign missions in India. The exclusion underscores the Taliban administration’s broader record of curtailing women’s rights since returning to power in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021. According to the UN, Afghan women continue to face severe restrictions, including being barred from education, workforce participation, and access to services without a male relative.
During the press conference, Muttaqi appeared relaxed and answered questions in Urdu while seated beneath a painting of the 6th-century Buddha statues of Bamiyan, which were destroyed under former Taliban leader Mullah Omar. On questions regarding women’s rights, he stated:
“In these four years, there have been no such losses. Laws are in force and every one has their rights. Those who are engaging in propaganda are making a mistake. Every country has its own customs, laws and principles… If people were not happy with the system and the laws, why has peace returned?”
Muttaqi further asserted that Afghanistan now has “peace [and a] united government” and that no external power, including the U.S., could enforce change in the past.
The news conference arrangements reflected the sensitivities around India-Taliban engagement. A small Taliban flag was placed in front of Muttaqi, but no national flags were displayed in the backdrop or on the table. Earlier, he met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at Hyderabad House, marking his first senior-level diplomatic engagement in India.
Women Journalists Excluded From Taliban Foreign Minister’s First Visit To India
