After Backlash; Amir Khan Muttaqi Forced to Hold Press Conference With Female Journalists in New Delhi

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Following strong criticism of the Taliban’s misogynistic conduct in New Delhi, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the group’s foreign minister, was compelled on Sunday (October 12) to hold a new press conference at the Afghan Embassy with the presence of female journalists.

In the initial press briefing held on Friday (October 10), the Taliban had barred female journalists from attending; an act that sparked outrage among Indian media, women’s rights activists, and political leaders.

In response to the backlash, India’s Ministry of External Affairs requested that the Taliban delegation hold a new conference with equal participation of male and female journalists. Earlier, a spokesperson for the ministry had clarified that the original press conference was held inside the Afghan Embassy and was beyond India’s jurisdiction.

In today’s session, Muttaqi answered questions from female reporters and also addressed the ongoing border tensions with Pakistan. He claimed that during last night’s Taliban attacks on border posts, 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed.

Muttaqi also confirmed the deaths of 9 Taliban fighters. However, Pakistani media reported that the country’s military had taken control of 19 Taliban posts. The Taliban, claimed to have captured 25 Pakistani border posts. Local sources say that this morning, the Pakistani military carried out airstrikes on Taliban positions in Helmand and Paktika provinces.