Afghanistan’s Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held a press meet in Delhi on Sunday, and this time the Afghan officials invited women journalists after backlash over their absence in the previous briefing at Afghan embassy. Addressing the issue on Sunday, Muttaqi said the exclusion of women journalists from the last presser was more a “technical issue”.
“With regards to the press conference, it was on short notice and a short list of journalists was decided, and the participation list that was presented was very specific. It was more a technical issue… Our colleagues had decided to send an invitation to a specific list of journalists and there was no other intention apart from this,” he said.
The minister is on a 6-day visit to India and discussed various issues of mutual cooperation with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Friday.
#WATCH | Delhi | On the issue of women journalists not being invited to his presser two days ago, Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi says, "With regards to the press conference, it was on short notice and a short list of journalists was decided, and the participation… pic.twitter.com/zM8999yc0l
— ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2025
However, no joint press briefing took place after the officials of two sides met, and instead Muttaqi called for a press conference at the Afghan embassy. But what surprised many was the absence of women journalists. Several of them, from the country’s top media companies, took to X to express their displeasure and even questioned the Centre over hosting the minister of a country that oppresses women.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in an official statement, said it had “no involvement” in the arrangement of the press conference.
Earlier, a Taliban spokesperson had told a news website that Muttaqi regularly “hosts women journalists” and what happened on Friday was “not a policy concern” but a technical one as the number of passes were limited.
‘Discussed trade, economy’
Giving details about issues on which Taliban engaged with India, Muttaqi said he talked about trade and economy among other concerns with Jaishankar. He welcomed India’s announcement of upgrading the technical mission in Kabul to an embassy.
“Afghan diplomats will also arrive in New Delhi. The EAM said that India will begin development work in Afghanistan while completing the pending projects,” he said.
#WATCH | Delhi | Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi says, "… I met the Minister of External Affairs of India and talked about economy, trade, and other issues. During the meeting, the EAM of India announced the upgrading of their mission in Kabul to Embassy level… pic.twitter.com/CdbCEKDEVg
— ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2025
Muttaqi said he has urged India to invest in sectors like mineral, health and sports. “We also discussed the Chabahar port, its optimal use, and how to navigate the sanctions imposed. Additionally, we talked about the Wagah border and requested its opening, as it is the closest and fastest trade route between India and Pakistan,” he added.
#WATCH | Delhi | Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi says, "… During the meeting, the Indian foreign minister announced an increase in the flights between Kabul and Delhi… An agreement was also reached on trade and economy… We also invited the Indian side to… pic.twitter.com/laaEZ3vkIO
— ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2025
India has begun engaging with Afghanistan at a time when the latter is involved in violent clashes with Pakistan. Furthermore, the Taliban minister’s warning to Pak on regular firing across the border, and to US President Donald Trump on Bagram airbase has not gone well with Islamabad.
The Pakistan leadership even objected to the Afghan minister’s comment coming from Indian soil.