A diplomatic visit by Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, has triggered a political and gender rights storm in India after women journalists were allegedly barred from attending his press conference in New Delhi on Thursday. The exclusion of female media personnel has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, journalists, and gender rights advocates.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, is on a week-long visit to India from October 9 to 16, marking the first high-level engagement since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in 2021. The controversy erupted when multiple media outlets reported that women journalists were not allowed to attend his press interaction in the capital.
Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram expressed his dismay, calling the move “shocking” and urging male journalists to show solidarity with their excluded colleagues.
I am shocked that women journalists were excluded from the press conference addressed by Mr Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan
In my personal view, the men journalists should have walked out when they found that their women colleagues were excluded (or not invited)
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) October 11, 2025
“I am shocked that women journalists were excluded from the press conference addressed by Mr Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan. In my personal view, the male journalists should have walked out when they found that their female colleagues were excluded (or not invited),” he posted on X.
Political Leaders Demand Accountability
Several opposition leaders questioned the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) over the incident. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra lashed out at the government, questioning how such an event was allowed on Indian soil.
“How dare our government allow Taliban foreign minister Amir Muttaqi to exclude women journalists & hold a ‘male-only’ news conference on Indian soil with full protocol? How dare EAM Jaishankar agree to this?” Moitra wrote on X.
Govt has dishonoured every single Indian woman by allowing Taliban minister to exclude women journalists from presser. Shameful bunch of spineless hypocrites. pic.twitter.com/xxnqofS6ob
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) October 10, 2025
How dare our government allow Taliban foreign minister Amir Muttaqi to exclude women journalists & hold a ‘male-only’ news conference on Indian soil with full protocol? How dare @DrSJAishankar agree to this? & why did our emasculated spineless male journos remain in room?
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) October 10, 2025
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Congress MP Karti P. Chidambaram accused the Modi government of compromising on democratic values in the name of diplomacy.
“I understand the geopolitical compulsions that force us to engage with the Taliban, but to accede to their discriminatory & plain primitive mores is outright ridiculous. It’s very disappointing to note the conduct of the Ministry of External Affairs and S. Jaishankar,” he said.
India Denies Involvement
Responding to the backlash, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that the government had no role in organizing the Taliban minister’s press interaction.
“MEA had no involvement in the press interaction held yesterday by Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in Delhi,” the ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
First Taliban Visit to India Since 2021 Takeover
Muttaqi’s visit is seen as a significant diplomatic moment. On the first day of his trip, he held a bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, where both sides discussed cooperative measures, including healthcare projects and humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan.
India announced new development and healthcare projects as part of its continued engagement with the Afghan people, despite not recognizing the Taliban government officially.
