Following criticism over restricting female journalists during Afghanistan’s diplomatic visit, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Sunday issued a clarification over the row. The Afghanistan Foreign Minister said that not inviting women to a press conference held in New Delhi was not intentional but a result of a "technical issue", news agency ANI reported.

The decision received severe backlash from India media as well as politicians, prompting Muttaqi to clarify that the decision was not based on gender discrimination.