Unrelated Photo Shared As Afghan Foreign Minister’s ‘Male-Only’ Press Conference On October 10

Amid the controversy surrounding the absence of female journalists at a press conference held by Amir Khan Muttaqi, the foreign minister of Afghanistan’s Taliban government, at the country’s embassy in New Delhi on October 10, a photo is being widely shared on social media. The image is being circulated with the claim that several female journalists were present at the event, and many posts are using it to target Opposition leaders who had criticised the exclusion of women from the press conference.

Evidence

Image Trace and Source Verification

Using Google Lens, Newschecker found the same photo posted by the Vivekananda International Foundation’s (VIF) official X handle on October 10, 2025. The post mentioned that Muttaqi attended a VIF event where India-Afghanistan relations and cultural links were discussed.

An IANS report also carried the similar image, confirming it was taken during the VIF discussion with Indian analysts and scholars, not at a press conference.

The Vivekananda International Foundation, based in New Delhi, is a prominent think tank focusing on diplomacy, national security, and foreign policy.

Female journalists present at the Afghan Minister’s press conference?

On October 10, Afghanistan foreign minister Muttaqi held a press briefing at the Afghanistan Embassy after meeting India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Reports from NDTV and The Wire confirm that female journalists were not allowed inside the embassy to cover the event.

NDTV said female reporters were stopped by embassy security, and The Wire reported that around 17 media outlets attended, all represented by male journalists.

Hafiz Zia Ahmed, director of the Taliban government’s ministry of foreign affairs’ information and public relations department, shared photos from Muttaqi’s press conference held on October 10 on X. A clear visual difference can be seen between these verified photos and the viral image, confirming that the latter is unrelated to the embassy event.

Female Journalists at Muttaqi’s Second Press Conference

Two days later, on October 12, the Afghanistan foreign minister held another press conference where female journalists were invited. Muttaqi explained the earlier absence of women by calling it a technical issue, saying the first press event was called at short notice and only a short list of journalists was invited.

Also Read: Old Video Of Pakistani Army Officer Crying Linked To Recent Conflict With Afghanistan

Verdict

The viral photo is not from the October 10 press conference of Afghanistan’s foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi. It was taken at a Vivekananda International Foundation event in New Delhi held the same day.

FAQs

1. Was the viral photo taken at the Afghan embassy press conference?
No. It was taken at an event organised by the Vivekananda International Foundation, not the Afghanistan embassy.

2. Were female journalists present at the October 10 press conference?
No. Multiple media reports and journalists confirm that only male journalists attended.

3. Did the Afghan foreign minister later address the controversy?
Yes. At a subsequent press conference on October 12, he said the absence of women at the first event was due to a technical issue.

Sources
Vivekananda International Foundation, X Post, October 10, 2025
Hafiz Zia Ahmad, X Post, October 10, 2025
IANS Report, October 10, 2025
NDTV Report, October 10, 2025
The Wire Report, October 11, 2025
BBC Report, Oct 13, 2025