During Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India, a press conference at the Afghan Embassy excluded women journalists, despite their compliance with dress codes. This sparked outrage across Indian media, political leaders (e.g., Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi), and activists, who criticized it as reflective of the Taliban’s gender-discriminatory policies. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs distanced itself, noting it was the Afghan Embassy’s decision.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Second Press Conference (October 12, 2025, New Delhi): Following intense criticism, a second “inclusive” press conference was held, allowing women journalists to participate. Over 50 journalists, including women, attended. Muttaqi faced tough questions on women’s rights, education bans in Afghanistan, and regional issues. He called the initial exclusion a “technical issue,” claimed education bans were “temporary,” and defended policies as “national traditions.” Critics noted contradictions with reports from UNESCO and human rights groups about severe restrictions on Afghan women.
Significance: The incident highlights how external pressure can push the Taliban to adjust, as seen in the inclusion of women journalists after backlash. However, it underscores the gap between their regional practices and universal Islamic principles of equality, as discussed previously.
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