Taliban FM’s Delhi Visit Sparks Outrage as Women Reporters Barred from Press Meet

New Delhi: A diplomatic controversy erupted on Friday after women journalists were denied entry to a press conference addressed by Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi at the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi. The exclusion of female reporters sparked sharp criticism from Indian opposition leaders and media circles.

Muttaqi, on his first visit to India since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover of Afghanistan, met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday to discuss India’s developmental assistance, trade cooperation, and regional stability. However, his subsequent press briefing drew outrage after female reporters were reportedly stopped from entering the venue.

Afghan Foreign Minister of Taliban Amir Khan Muttaqi addressing press conference in New Delhi at Afghanistan Embassy. Sadly not a single female journalist was allowed in the presser. I raised the issue with the security staff at the Embassy Gate but they did not listen. pic.twitter.com/mu1sCWiIYl

— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) October 10, 2025

In response to the growing backlash, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday firmly distanced itself from the controversy, stating it had “no role whatsoever” in organising the Taliban minister’s press conference. The MEA clarified that invitations were issued solely by Afghanistan’s Consul General in Mumbai, who coordinated the event during his visit to Delhi. It also underlined that the Afghan Embassy operates independently and “does not fall under the jurisdiction or authority of the Government of India.”

Several female journalists took to social media to protest their exclusion, noting that no women were seen at the press interaction. Some alleged they were physically prevented from entering the embassy premises, calling it a disturbing reflection of the Taliban’s policies being mirrored on Indian soil.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban regime has imposed sweeping restrictions on women — banning them from universities, public offices, and most workplaces — effectively erasing them from public life.

Despite the controversy, diplomatic talks between the two nations moved forward. During his meeting with Muttaqi, Jaishankar announced the upgradation of India’s technical mission in Kabul into a full-fledged embassy, signalling a cautious deepening of engagement with Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government.

Reaffirming New Delhi’s stance, Jaishankar said India remains “fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan.” He underscored the shared goal of stability and growth in the region, warning that both are “threatened by cross-border terrorism.”

Muttaqi, for his part, called India a “close friend” of Afghanistan, assuring that “no one will be allowed to use Afghan soil to threaten or act against others.”

Muttaqi’s India trip, cleared by a UN Security Council travel waiver, is being closely monitored by regional powers — especially Pakistan — as New Delhi recalibrates its Afghanistan strategy amid shifting geopolitical equations.