Pakistan, Oct. 14 -- Women journalists attended the Taliban press conference in India after being excluded from an earlier event. Their presence in the front row came after outrage over Friday's media briefing that banned female reporters. The Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi faced criticism for the move, which sparked anger among politicians, activists, and the press. In his second appearance, he said the omission was unintentional. The Taliban press conference in India quickly turned into a symbol of women's resistance.

Mr. Muttaqi explained that the first briefing was organized on short notice and the guest list was limited. He said it was a "technical issue" rather than a deliberate act. However, critics rejected the explan...