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New Delhi (October 2025) — Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister under the Taliban government, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, arrived in New Delhi for an official visit this week. However, the trip quickly turned controversial after women journalists were barred from attending a press conference held at the Afghan Embassy.
According to media reports, only male journalists were allowed inside, while female reporters were denied entry without explanation. The incident drew sharp criticism from Indian journalists, human rights groups, and political leaders, calling it an insult to India’s democratic values and commitment to gender equality.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement distancing itself from the event, saying it had no involvement in the embassy’s internal arrangements. Officials emphasized that the press conference was solely managed by the Afghan diplomatic mission.
Political reaction was swift — opposition leader Rahul Gandhi slammed the government, accusing it of hypocrisy. He questioned how a country that promotes women’s empowerment under the slogan “Nari Shakti” could host a delegation that denies basic rights to women.
The controversy comes amid continued global concern over the Taliban’s treatment of women in Afghanistan, where they remain banned from education, most jobs, and public spaces. Analysts say this incident in Delhi reflects the deep unease many countries still feel about formally engaging with the Taliban regime, which has yet to gain international recognition.
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