New Delhi, Oct 12: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has distanced itself from a controversial press conference held by Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi, where women journalists were reportedly barred from attending. In a formal statement issued on Saturday, the MEA clarified that it had “no role or involvement” in the event and that the Afghan Embassy in Delhi independently organised the interaction.
“The Ministry of External Affairs had no involvement in the press interaction held yesterday by the Afghan Foreign Minister in Delhi,” the statement read. “It was an event organised independently by the Afghan side at its embassy.” The ministry also confirmed that no joint press briefing took place following the meeting between Muttaqi and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
The press conference, reportedly limited to a small group of male journalists and Afghan embassy officials, focused on discussions surrounding bilateral ties, humanitarian assistance, trade connectivity, and regional security cooperation. However, the exclusion of women journalists quickly drew widespread criticism across political and media circles, raising concerns about gender equality and freedom of the press in such diplomatic interactions.
Senior Congress leader and former Home Minister P. Chidambaram expressed dismay over the incident, saying it was disappointing that male journalists did not protest the exclusion. “I am shocked that women journalists were excluded from the press conference addressed by Mr Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan. In my view, male journalists should have walked out in solidarity when their female colleagues were denied access,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Echoing similar sentiments, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify the government’s position on the matter. “Prime Minister ji, please clarify your stance on the removal of female journalists from the press conference of the representative of the Taliban during his visit to India. If your government truly values women’s rights, how was such an insult allowed to occur in our country?” she asked in her post.
Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit marked an important diplomatic engagement, as he met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional developments. During the meeting, India announced its decision to upgrade its technical mission in Kabul to a full-fledged embassy, signaling a step toward deeper engagement with the Taliban administration.
“India remains fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan,” Jaishankar said, noting that the decision to elevate the mission reflected India’s long-standing ties with the Afghan people. Muttaqi, in turn, welcomed India’s decision, calling it a “positive step” in rebuilding mutual trust and cooperation.
The controversy surrounding the exclusion of women journalists, however, has cast a shadow over the visit, sparking renewed debate over India’s diplomatic conduct and gender representation in international forums. Critics argue that allowing an event on Indian soil where women reporters were excluded sends a troubling message about India’s commitment to press freedom and women’s rights, especially in interactions with a regime widely criticised for curtailing women’s participation in public life.
While the MEA’s clarification underscores India’s official distance from the incident, the episode has prompted calls for a clearer policy framework governing the conduct of foreign diplomatic engagements within the country. Observers say such guidelines could help ensure that India’s constitutional values of equality, inclusivity, and freedom of expression are respected at all events held under the diplomatic umbrella.