MEA distances itself from Afghan Embassy controversy

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has distanced itself from the controversy regarding the Afghan embassy's decision to deny access to women journalists during a press conference held by Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

The issue snowballed into a major controversy, with top Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and P.Chidambaram raising concerns over the discrimination toward women.

They pointed to the Modi government's "hollow" slogans about empowering "Nari Shakti."

In a statement released on Saturday, the MEA clarified that it had "no involvement" in the press interaction organized by the Afghan Foreign Minister in Delhi. The ministry emphasised that no joint media briefing took place after the meeting between Mr Muttaqi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Instead, the Afghan side independently arranged a separate press event at its embassy.

At this event, attended exclusively by male journalists and Afghan embassy officials, Mr Muttaqi addressed various topics, including bilateral relations, humanitarian aid, trade routes, and regional security cooperation.

The exclusion of women journalists from the press conference sparked outrage, with many questioning why India allowed such restrictions on its soil.