No women journo at minister's presser

No woman journalist was present at a news conference by Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi at the Afghan embassy on Friday, with participation limited to a group of less than 20 reporters.

The final call on participation in the event was taken by Taliban officials accompanying Muttaqi, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. Indian authorities had indicated that participation should be broad-based and include women journalists, they said.

It is rare for women journalists to be excluded from official events and media interactions organised in New Delhi by other countries and it could not immediately be ascertained whether the Taliban side had formally informed Indian authorities that it would not accept women journalists at Muttaqi’s interaction.