The absence of women journalists from Afghanistan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s press meet was not intentional, a Taliban spokesperson has said amid an ongoing row over the matter, a report said. The spokesperson added that Taliban’s FM Muttaqi regularly hosts women journalists, and what happened in New Delhi was a “technical issue”.
“There is no discriminatory policy against women. The number of passes was limited; some received them, some did not. It was a technical matter and should not be viewed as a policy issue,” Taliban officials said, quoted News18.
Taliban clarifies stance
The Taliban leader added that he too gives interviews to women journalists. “Muttaqi meets women in his office in Kabul regularly. I myself do interviews with female journalists,” the spokesperson added, reported News18.
“There is no such thing that this is an intentional act to exclude women from the briefing. However, there were male journalists who were not able to get a pass to participate in the briefing,” the spokesperson said.
What is the row?
Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held a press interaction in New Delhi at the Afghanistan embassy. The presser was attended by only male journalists, and many women journalists took to X to share how they were not allowed to enter.
The External Affairs Ministry on Saturday clarified that it had no role in the absence of women journalists in Muttaqi’s press meet.
However, several top women journalists of media groups criticised the same, and questioned the government over hosting Taliban, a women oppressive regime, on Indian soil. Some of them highlighted that despite following the strict “dress code”, they were not allowed to attend the presser.
The Taliban regime has restricted Afghan women’s participation in activities and professions, which they don’t find apt as per Sharia law.
The Taliban has been engaging in high-level talks with many nations and established some diplomatic ties with countries including China and the United Arab Emirates. In July, Russia became the first country to recognise the Taliban ’s government.