A diplomatic row erupted in New Delhi after women journalists were allegedly barred from attending a press conference addressed by Afghanistan&rsquo;s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, sparking outrage across political and media circles.
The Taliban minister&rsquo;s visit, the first high-level delegation from Kabul since the group seized power in 2021 was meant to signal engagement. Instead, it has ignited debate over gender rights and India&rsquo;s diplomatic stance.&nbsp; &ldquo;I am shocked that women journalists were excluded from the press conference addressed by Mr. Amir Khan Muttaqi. Male journalists should have walked out in solidarity,&rdquo; said Congress leader P. Chidambaram.
TMC&rsquo;s Mahua Moitra went further, posting on X: &ldquo;How dare our government allow Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Muttaqi to exclude women journalists &amp; hold a &lsquo;male-only&rsquo; news conference on Indian soil? How dare EAM Jaishankar agree to this?&rdquo;&nbsp;Congress MP Karti P. Chidambaram added, &ldquo;I understand the geopolitical compulsions that force us to engage with the Taliban, but to accede to their discriminatory &amp; primitive mores is ridiculous.&rdquo;
The Ministry of External Affairs swiftly distanced itself from the controversy, stating, &ldquo;MEA had no involvement in the press interaction held yesterday by Afghanistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Delhi.&rdquo;Muttaqi, on a week-long visit from October 9 to 16, met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar earlier to discuss bilateral cooperation and new healthcare projects for Afghanistan. But the uproar over gender exclusion has overshadowed the diplomatic agenda.

Fury in Delhi as Taliban bars women journalists

Muttaqi’s all-male presser in Delhi sparks outrage; MEA distances itself from event

Fury in Delhi as Taliban bars women journalists

Muttaqi’s all-male presser in Delhi sparks outrage; MEA distances itself from event

October 11, 2025 | 11:04 IST