Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has described the exclusion of women journalists from his Friday press conference in New Delhi as “more a technical issue and no other problems,” amid ongoing criticism over the incident. The Taliban leader, who is on a week-long visit to India, faced backlash after his initial press meet reportedly barred women journalists, prompting outrage from media bodies, political leaders, and civil society. Against the backdrop of this criticism, women journalists were invited to a second media interaction with him on Sunday. The Editors Guild of India and the Indian Women Press Corps (IWPC) called Friday’s exclusion discriminatory and unjustifiable, rejecting the use of diplomatic privileges under the Vienna Convention to defend it. “While diplomatic premises may claim protection under the Vienna Convention, that cannot justify blatant gender discrimination in press access on Indian soil,” the Editors Guild said. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) distanced itself from the controversy, clarifying it had no involvement in organizing the Friday event. However, the Editors Guild maintained that the discriminatory act should not have gone unchallenged, regardless of MEA’s role. The IWPC urged the Indian government to ensure that such gender-based exclusions do not recur, calling it a serious affront to press freedom and women’s rights. Political reactions were swift and sharp. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to stand up for women, saying, “Your silence in the face of such discrimination exposes the emptiness of your slogans on Nari Shakti.” Priyanka Gandhi Vadra demanded a public clarification from the PM, while TMC MP Mahua Moitra said the incident had dishonoured every Indian woman. Former Union Minister P Chidambaram criticised male journalists for not walking out in solidarity with their excluded colleagues.
