Overview

• Photos from the October 10 briefing at the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi showed only male reporters, with invitations decided by Taliban officials accompanying Amir Khan Muttaqi.
• India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it was not involved in organizing the Afghan-side press interaction and noted there was no joint briefing after S. Jaishankar’s meeting with Muttaqi.
• Journalist bodies including the Editors Guild of India and the Indian Women’s Press Corps condemned the exclusion, as opposition leaders pressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to state his position.
• Muttaqi convened a second press conference on October 12 that included women journalists and said the earlier exclusion was unintended due to short notice and a limited invite list.
• During the visit, Jaishankar announced India will upgrade its Technical Mission in Kabul to an embassy, and discussions covered trade, additional flights, Chabahar port usage, and a request to open the Wagah route.