'No Involvement': MEA Clarifies on Afghan FM's Presser Amid Row Over Barred Women Journalists

New Delhi: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday clarified that it had "no involvement" in the press interaction held yesterday by Afghanistan's Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in Delhi. The press conference

addressed by Muttaqi on Friday saw participation restricted to a handful of reporters, while women journalists were conspicuous by their absence."MEA had no involvement in the press interaction held yesterday by the Afghan FM in Delhi," the ministry said in a statement.The interaction was held at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi, hours after the Afghan leader held wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.It is learnt that the decision on inviting journalists to the media interaction was taken by Taliban officials accompanying the foreign minister. Muttaqi is the first senior Taliban minister to visit India since the group seized power in Kabul four years ago.People familiar with the matter said the Indian side suggested to the Afghan side that women journalists should be part of the invitees for the event.The Taliban regime in Kabul has faced severe criticism from various countries as well as global bodies like the United Nations for restricting the rights of women in Afghanistan.Asked about the restriction on women, Muttaqi, during the press interaction, side-stepped the issue, but said every country has its own customs, laws and principles, and there should be respect for them.He claimed that the overall situation in Afghanistan has improved significantly since the Taliban came to power in August 2021.

Muttaqi pointed out that some 200 to 400 people died in Afghanistan every day before the Taliban started ruling the country."In these four years, there have been no such losses. Laws are in force and every one has their rights. Those who are engaging in propaganda are making a mistake," Muttaqi said."Every country has its own customs, laws and principles, and works according to those. It is not correct that people are not given their rights. If people were not happy with the system and the laws, why has peace returned," he asked.The Afghan foreign minister's visit to India assumes greater significance as it comes at a time when both India and Afghanistan are having frosty relations with Pakistan over a range of issues, including cross-border terrorism.