India Hosts Taliban FM Muttaqi , Reopens Kabul Embassy Amid Women Journalists’ Exclusion Outrage

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Taliban Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi on October 10, 2025, marking the first high-level contact since 2021, with announcements to upgrade the technical mission in Kabul to a full embassy and deliver 20 ambulances plus medical aid. Discussions focused on development aid, trade in mining and energy sectors, and assurances against anti-India terrorism from Afghan soil, while Muttaqi warned Pakistan against airstrikes violating Afghan sovereignty. The visit faced backlash for excluding women journalists from a press conference at the Afghan Embassy, drawing criticism from Indian politicians like Mahua Moitra and Karti P. Chidambaram over gender discrimination on Indian soil.

A visit by Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, to New Delhi was overshadowed by a controversial incident at a press conference, where women journalists were reportedly barred from attending. Muttaqi is a representative of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, a group widely known for its strict and extensive restrictions on women’s rights, including essentially preventing them from working.

The controversy erupted during a press conference held at the Afghanistan embassy in the afternoon. Despite a broader effort to reset ties between the two nations, security personnel at the embassy reportedly prevented women journalists from entering the event. The issue was raised with the embassy staff, but the ban was not lifted. This action quickly caused outrage, with several journalists turning to social media to express their anger and frustration over the clear restriction.

This incident occurred following significant diplomatic engagement. Muttaqi, who arrived in India on a Thursday, held talks with India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, on Friday. This high-level meeting was considered a major step toward normalizing relations, despite India’s long-standing caution toward the Taliban due to their human rights record, particularly concerning women, and the potential for terror groups to find a safe haven in Afghanistan.

A key outcome of the meeting was India’s announcement that it would upgrade its technical mission in Kabul to the status of an embassy. Jaishankar stated that India is fully committed to the “sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan,” a move that was welcomed by the Afghan Foreign Minister. This upgrade was seen as a significant symbol of improving relations between the two countries.

During the press conference, Muttaqi also addressed the sensitive issue of terrorism. He asserted that Afghanistan does not provide any space or control to terror groups that have targeted India, specifically mentioning Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Muttaqi urged other countries, in a clear reference to Pakistan, to act against such terror organizations as Afghanistan claims to have done for the sake of peace. He emphasized that Afghanistan views India as a close friend and desires a relationship built on mutual respect, trade, and people-to-people relations.

Despite the positive steps in diplomacy and the Foreign Minister’s comments on counter-terrorism, the ban on women journalists remained the dominant talking point. The incident was a stark reminder of the Taliban’s policies toward women, leading many social media users to question the action, especially since female reporters had reportedly adhered to all dress codes.