Renowned Indian lyricist and author Javed Akhtar has sharply criticized the Indian government’s reception for Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, calling it a moment of “national shame” and expressing deep embarrassment over the visit.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Akhtar said he was “ashamed as an Indian” to see those who once promoted terrorism being welcomed with respect.
“Those who speak against terrorism are now honoring the very people who spread it across the world. As an Indian, I feel embarrassed,” he wrote.
Akhtar also took aim at Darul Uloom Deoband, the prominent Islamic seminary in Uttar Pradesh, for welcoming Muttaqi, who is currently on a six-day visit to India.
“It is distressing to see a man whose regime bans girls from going to school being presented as an ‘Islamic hero,’” Akhtar added.
The Afghan foreign minister’s visit marks the first formal trip by a Taliban leader to India since the group regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. The visit was made possible after the United Nations Security Council temporarily lifted travel restrictions on Muttaqi, who has faced sanctions since 2001, including a travel ban and asset freeze.
Muttaqi’s trip has already drawn controversy, particularly after a press conference in New Delhi where no female journalists were allowed to attend, a move that sparked outrage among Indian media circles and women’s rights activists.
Several political leaders and press organizations condemned the incident as a “blatant insult to women.”
Following Akhtar’s remarks, social media erupted with debate, as users echoed his concerns and questioned why representatives of extremist groups were being given official recognition in India.
