Overview

• After female reporters were barred from Friday’s embassy briefing in New Delhi, women took front-row seats at a second session and questioned Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
• Muttaqi said the initial absence of women was an unintentional “technical issue” caused by short notice and a limited invite list, a claim critics rejected.
• India’s External Affairs Ministry said it had no role in the first event hosted at the Afghan embassy, while press bodies and opposition leaders condemned the exclusion.
• During the visit, Muttaqi met Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, after which India announced plans to upgrade its Kabul presence to an embassy.
• The episode unfolded as the UN and rights groups denounce Taliban curbs on women; the UN Security Council granted Muttaqi a travel waiver for the trip, and India has not recognized the Taliban government.