Afghanistan's Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, has addressed the exclusion of female journalists from a press conference in New Delhi, describing it as a "technical issue" rather than a deliberate act. This statement came during a follow-up press meet on Sunday, where both male and female journalists were invited. The initial press conference, held on October 10, faced significant backlash after women journalists were barred from attending, leading to widespread criticism from media organizations and political leaders.

Muttaqi explained that the exclusion was due to the short notice for the event, which resulted in a participation list that did not include female journalists. He stated, "It was not intended," emphasizing that the situation was under control and that the Afghan government seeks peaceful relations with Pakistan, despite recent tensions.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, including the Editors Guild of India and the Indian Women Press Corps (IWPC), who condemned the exclusion as discriminatory. They argued that such actions undermine press freedom and women's rights. The IWPC called on the Indian government to prevent future occurrences of gender-based exclusions.

Political reactions were swift, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence on the matter, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra demanded a public clarification from him. Former Union Minister P Chidambaram also expressed disappointment over male journalists not showing solidarity with their excluded female colleagues.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs clarified that it had no role in organizing the press conference, stating that it was entirely under the Afghan Embassy's jurisdiction. Despite this, the incident has reignited discussions on women's rights and media representation, particularly in the context of Afghanistan's governance under the Taliban. As the situation unfolds, attention remains on how Afghan officials will engage with the media in the future and whether inclusive practices will be consistently upheld.