Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held a second press conference in New Delhi on Sunday, inviting women journalists after widespread outrage over their absence in his previous media interaction. The visit, which is part of the Taliban’s efforts to re-engage with India and the region, has been overshadowed by criticism from journalists, political leaders, and women’s rights advocates over the exclusion of female reporters from the initial briefing.

Muttaqi, who arrived in India on Thursday for a week-long visit, defended the earlier exclusion as an unintentional “technical issue.” “It was on short notice, and the participation list was very specific. There was no intention to exclude anyone,” he told reporters. “No one’s rights—whether men’s or women’s—should ever be denied.

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