A striking image captured in Indian media on Monday showed women journalists seated prominently at Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s press conference in New Delhi—a stark contrast to events just days earlier.
The Sunday gathering marked Muttaqi’s second media interaction at the Afghan embassy within 48 hours, hastily arranged following widespread condemnation of his first press conference on Friday, which barred all female journalists from attending.
“Technical Issue” or Deliberate Exclusion?
During Sunday’s session, Muttaqi characterized the earlier exclusion as unintentional. He explained that the Friday event was organized quickly with a limited, predetermined list of journalists, calling it “more a technical issue” rather than a deliberate act of discrimination.
However, Taliban government sources had previously acknowledged that women were not invited to the initial gathering, where approximately 16 male reporters attended while female journalists were refused entry at the embassy gates.
Context: Afghanistan’s Gender Apartheid
The incident highlights the sharp contrast between India’s democratic values and Afghanistan’s current reality. The United Nations has labeled conditions in Afghanistan as “gender apartheid,” where women and girls face severe restrictions: secondary schools and universities are off-limits, parks and gyms are forbidden, employment opportunities are drastically limited, and full-body coverings are mandated.
The Taliban government, which seized power in 2021, maintains it respects women’s rights according to its interpretation of Afghan culture and Islamic law. Yet these restrictions represent the world’s harshest suppression of women’s rights and have significantly hindered the Taliban’s efforts to gain international recognition.
High-Stakes Diplomatic Visit
Muttaqi’s week-long visit to India, which began Thursday, involves high-level discussions with officials from Russia—currently the only nation to formally recognize the Taliban government. While India hasn’t officially recognized Afghanistan’s de facto rulers, it maintains informal diplomatic channels, operates a small mission in Kabul, and provides humanitarian assistance.
The visit carries significant weight for both parties. The Taliban gains credibility in its pursuit of international legitimacy, while India advances crucial strategic and security objectives. On Friday, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar announced India’s decision to reopen its Kabul embassy, which closed following the Taliban’s 2021 takeover.
Backlash and Criticism
India’s Ministry of External Affairs initially distanced itself from the controversy, stating it had no involvement in the embassy-hosted press interaction. This response failed to quell the outrage that erupted across India’s political and media landscape.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting the government’s inaction signaled weakness in defending women’s rights.
Major journalism organizations issued forceful condemnations. The Editors Guild of India rejected the notion that diplomatic premises could justify gender discrimination on Indian soil, regardless of Vienna Convention protections. The group expressed deep concern that such discrimination proceeded without government objection.
The Network of Women in Media, India emphasized the government’s constitutional obligation to protect female citizens’ rights, including their ability to work and earn a livelihood. They also criticized male journalists who attended Friday’s conference for their silence, noting that inaction can normalize discrimination.
The Second Chance
Following the growing controversy, Muttaqi’s team issued new invitations for an “inclusive” event open to all media personnel. While officials haven’t confirmed what prompted the do-over, speculation suggests possible Indian government intervention.
Sunday’s well-attended conference featured pointed questions about Friday’s exclusion and the broader treatment of Afghan women and girls. Muttaqi claimed that over 2.8 million women and girls attend schools and religious institutions, asserting that women’s education isn’t religiously forbidden but merely “postponed until further order,” with “some limits” in place.
Journalists challenged these assertions, citing the reality in Afghanistan: girls over 12 are barred from education, women’s employment options are severely constrained, and universities recently removed books authored by women.
A Small Victory?
While Muttaqi’s answers on women’s rights may have fallen short of satisfactory, some journalists noted that the second conference itself—and the minister’s willingness to field questions on gender issues—represented a modest step forward in an otherwise grim situation.
