Renowned Indian lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has voiced strong disapproval regarding the respectful treatment accorded to Afghanistan's Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi during his ongoing visit to India. Akhtar, known for his outspoken views on social issues, took to the social media platform X to share his sentiments, highlighting what he perceives as a contradiction in India's stance against terrorism.
Muttaqi arrived in Delhi last Thursday for a six-day diplomatic engagement, marking the first such high-level trip by a Taliban official to India since the group regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. The visit, facilitated by a special exemption from United Nations sanctions, included meetings with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and a stop at the influential Darul Uloom Deoband seminary in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral ties, with India announcing plans to upgrade its mission in Kabul to a full embassy.
In his X post on Monday, Akhtar lambasted the reception given to Muttaqi, describing the Taliban as one of the "world's worst terrorist groups." He specifically called out the Deoband institution for honouring the minister, whom he accused of being part of a regime that has imposed a complete ban on girls' education in Afghanistan. Akhtar wrote that he felt compelled to "hang his head in shame" at the sight of such reverence from those who otherwise condemn terrorism vehemently. He urged his fellow Indians to reflect on the broader implications, questioning, "What is happening to us?" The post quickly garnered significant attention, sparking debates online about India's foreign policy and the balance between diplomacy and principles.
The visit has not been without controversy. During Muttaqi's initial press interaction in Delhi on Friday, female journalists were notably absent, leading to widespread outrage from media people and opposition figures who labeled it an "insult" to Indian women and a violation of press freedoms. In response to the backlash, the Taliban delegation held a follow-up press conference on Sunday, this time including women reporters. Muttaqi attributed the earlier exclusion to a "technical issue" stemming from a rushed schedule and limited invitations.
