Opinion

Opinion | India-Afghanistan Meet: Why Do We Always Bend Our Principles?

Taliban Foreign Minister’s press conference last week where women journalists were excluded was not only discriminatory but also a direct violation of our own values and laws

In 1996, when the Taliban forcibly took control of Afghanistan, India severed ties and shut down its Embassy in Kabul. On Friday, India announced the upgrade of its Technical Mission to full-fledged Embassy. With that move, we have officially recognized the Taliban government.

Personally, I have nothing but disdain for any undemocratic, authoritarian, ultra-conservative and misogynistic regime. Yet, from a national interest point of view, I can understand why we might find it strategically wise to maintain cordial relations with Afghanistan especially under the current geopolitical circumstances.

But here lies the deeper question. Why do we always bend backwards? Why do we compromise on everything we believe in and sacrifice our moral, cultural and ethical values just to please another nation? Can we not build relationships based on equality and mutual respect?

Taliban FM Amir Khan Muttaqi's 'men-only' press conference on 10th October. Later, he clarified the exclusion of women was a 'technical error' (Photo: @HafizZiaAhmad/X)
Taliban FM Amir Khan Muttaqi’s ‘men-only’ press conference on 10th October. Later, he clarified the exclusion of women was a ‘technical error’ (Photo: @HafizZiaAhmad/X)


The Taliban Foreign Minister held an all-male press conference on Indian soil. No woman journalist was invited or allowed. And we permitted it to happen. This was not only discriminatory but also a direct violation of our own values and laws. Why did we allow it? Did anyone pause to think how humiliating that moment was for our women journalists, and for Indian women in general?

Some might say the Taliban delegation were our guests and we did not want to offend them. But did we stop to think how deeply we offended every woman in this country by allowing such blatant gender bias to take place before our eyes?

Would the Taliban ever allow our External Affairs Minister to invite women journalists (former journalists now under the Taliban regime) for a press event in Kabul? Would they set aside their rigid, radical beliefs to avoid offending India? The answer is obvious. Then why do we?

At what point do we draw the line between diplomacy and dignity?

Sujit Nair is Managing Editor, HW News.

 

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