Taliban Minister Bans Women Journalists at Delhi Press Conference Amid India-Afghanistan Diplomatic Reset

The Taliban administration is notorious for implementing severe restrictions on women's rights and freedoms.

Considerable controversy erupted following a press conference conducted by Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi, as female journalists were prohibited from attending the event.

As a representative of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, Muttaqi belongs to an administration widely criticized for its stringent limitations on women, effectively preventing them from participating in the workforce. India has maintained a cautious approach in its dealings with the Taliban, primarily due to concerns regarding their human rights practices and the potential for terrorist organizations to find sanctuary within Afghanistan.

Muttaqi's diplomatic visit to India began on Thursday, with formal discussions with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar taking place on Friday. This significant meeting, viewed as a major diplomatic reset, included India's announcement about upgrading its technical mission in Kabul to embassy status—a development that received positive acknowledgment from the Afghan foreign minister.

"India remains fully committed to Afghanistan's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence. I am pleased to announce the elevation of India's Technical Mission to embassy status," Jaishankar stated.

However, during Muttaqi's afternoon press conference at the Afghan embassy, security personnel prevented women journalists from entering. When NDTV challenged this exclusionary practice with embassy security staff, they refused to make any accommodations.

Numerous journalists subsequently expressed their indignation on social media platforms, highlighting that all female reporters had adhered to the required dress code. Many social media users also questioned this discriminatory action.

During the press conference, the Afghan foreign minister asserted that his country does not provide safe haven to terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, organizations responsible for multiple attacks against India, and urged Pakistan to adopt a similar stance.

"Not a single one of these groups operates in Afghanistan. They control no territory within our borders... We encourage other nations to take comparable actions against terrorist organizations, following Afghanistan's example in pursuing peace," he declared, clearly alluding to Pakistan.

Attributing a recent attack in Afghanistan to Pakistan, Muttaqi emphasized that no country should oppose peace initiatives in Afghanistan.

"Afghanistan considers India a close friend. We seek relationships based on mutual respect, trade development, and stronger people-to-people connections," the minister concluded.