Sat Oct 11 06:23:21 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**India Denies Involvement in Women’s Exclusion at Afghan Minister’s Press Conference**

**New Delhi, India – October 12, 2025** – India has distanced itself from a controversial press conference held by Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi, where women journalists were allegedly barred from attending. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the invites were issued by the Afghan Consul General in Mumbai to Afghan journalists stationed in Delhi for Muttaqi’s visit. The MEA further clarified that the Afghan Embassy’s territory is not under Indian government jurisdiction.

The absence of women journalists at the event, and allegations that some were prevented from entering, sparked outrage and condemnation on social media. The incident drew sharp criticism given the Taliban government’s well-documented restrictions on women in Afghanistan, including barring them from working and education.

Opposition leaders have slammed the government over the alleged exclusion. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to stand up for women’s rights, stating, “When you allow the exclusion of women journalists from a public forum, you are telling every woman in India that you are too weak to stand up for them… Your silence in the face of such discrimination exposes the emptiness of your slogans on Nari Shakti.” Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed these sentiments, urging PM Modi to clarify his position on the incident. P. Chidambaram, former Union Minister, suggested that male journalists should have boycotted the press conference in protest.

Muttaqi’s visit to India included discussions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during which India announced the upgrade of its technical mission in Kabul to a full embassy. This move was welcomed by Muttaqi, with Jaishankar reaffirming India’s commitment to Afghanistan’s sovereignty and development.

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