Lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has strongly criticised the visit of Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India, expressing shame over the reception given to him, including at the Darul Uloom Deoband seminary in Uttar Pradesh.
In a post on X, Akhtar wrote, “I hang my head in shame when I see the kind of respect and reception given to the representative of the world’s worst terrorist group by those who beat the pulpit against all kinds of terrorists. Shame on Deoband too for giving such a reverent welcome to their ‘Islamic Hero’ who is one of those who have completely banned girls’ education. My Indian brothers and sisters! What is happening to us.”
Muttaqi arrived in India on October 9 for a six-day visit, marking the first trip by a senior Taliban leader since the group returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. During his stay, he met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the National Security Advisor to discuss strengthening bilateral ties. Jaishankar also announced that India would upgrade its Technical Mission in Kabul to a full embassy, reaffirming India’s support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty.
The Taliban minister’s visit included a tour of Darul Uloom Deoband. His scheduled visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra was cancelled without a specific reason. Muttaqi faced criticism for barring women journalists from a press conference at the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi, though he later clarified that the exclusion was unintentional due to short notice and logistical constraints. On Sunday, he held a press conference in Delhi allowing both male and female journalists to attend.
