Image Credit: X account @DrSJaishankar
MEA Denies Role in Press Meet Excluding Women
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has rejected involvement in a press conference by Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held in New Delhi on Friday, which notably barred women journalists from attending.
MEA Clarification
The MEA stated that it had no role in organizing or controlling the media interaction conducted at the Afghan Embassy. It clarified invitations were sent by Afghanistan’s diplomatic mission—specifically, its Consul General in Mumbai—to selected Delhi-based journalists. The MEA added that operations inside the embassy premises fall outside Indian jurisdiction.
Exclusion of Women Reporters
Reports and social media posts confirm that no women reporters were present inside the press briefing hall. Some female journalists said they were turned away despite complying with dress codes and other norms. The exclusion has drawn criticism as discriminatory and unprecedented on Indian soil.
Political and Media Backlash
Opposition leaders demanded accountability from the government. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged the Prime Minister to explain why women journalists were excluded from a public diplomatic event held in the capital. Other leaders called the exclusion an insult to Indian women’s rights and press freedom.
Journalist groups also expressed shock. Some said male colleagues should have protested the exclusion by refusing to participate. Observers noted the incident spotlights tensions in India’s evolving engagement with the Taliban and the regime’s gender policies.
Broader Context
This incident comes amid India’s cautious diplomatic outreach to the Taliban. During the same visit, Foreign Minister Muttaqi met with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and India announced upgrading its mission in Kabul to an embassy. While India has not officially recognized the Taliban government, it has gradually expanded engagement. The exclusion of women journalists at the event has raised concerns about whether India is accommodating the Taliban’s regressive gender norms in its diplomatic interactions.
