The Taliban in Delhi: A Diplomatic Engagement and the Clash of Values
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: International Relations (India-Afghanistan relations); Social Issues (Women's Rights, Gender Equality); Current events of national and international importance.
Mains:
General Studies Paper 1 (Society): Role of women and women's organization; Social empowerment.
General Studies Paper 2 (International Relations & Social Justice): India and its neighborhood- relations; Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests. The "Values vs. Interests" debate in foreign policy is a core IR topic.
Key Highlights from the News
The exclusion of women journalists from a press conference by Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is visiting India, in Delhi, sparked a major controversy.
This "men-only" press conference drew significant criticism from India's diplomatic circles and the public.
Opposition parties criticized the government, which speaks of "Nari Shakti," for its silence on this gender discrimination that occurred on Indian soil, calling it hypocrisy.
The External Affairs Ministry clarified that they had no role in organizing the press conference and that it was directly arranged by the Afghan delegation.
This incident highlights the conflict between India's pragmatic foreign policy and the country's democratic and gender equality values.
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