Taliban bars women reporters from Afghan FM’s briefing in India

Female journalists were not allowed to attend a press conference by Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister in New Delhi, The Times of India reports.

According to the newspaper, the decision regarding media access to the briefing—held at the Afghan Embassy following talks between Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar—was made by representatives of the Taliban accompanying Muttaqi.

The Indian side reportedly suggested including women among the accredited journalists, but this recommendation was not accepted.

Since the Taliban's 2021 takeover, Afghanistan has enforced severe gender restrictions under its interpretation of Sharia law: women are barred from secondary education, most jobs, public parks, and media roles, with mandatory male guardianship and dress codes. Globally condemned (e.g., UN reports 2025 as "gender apartheid"), these policies have isolated Kabul, with no country formally recognising the regime except Russia.

By Khagan Isayev