Javed Akhtar ashamed over India’s Taliban welcome
Taliban leader Amir Khan Muttaqi begins six-day India visit, marking first trip since group’s 2021 Afghanistan takeover.
“Hang My Head in Shame”: Javed Akhtar Slams India’s Warm Reception for Taliban Leader
Renowned screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar has spoken out sharply against the “reception” given to Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi during his ongoing visit to New Delhi, saying the episode has left him “hanging his head in shame.” His comments have reignited a heated debate across India over how the country should engage with the Taliban regime that took over Afghanistan in 2021.
Muttaqi is currently on a six-day visit to India, marking the first trip by a Taliban leader since the group seized power after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The visit, viewed as diplomatically significant, has nevertheless drawn sharp criticism from several quarters—none more passionate than Akhtar’s.
His post quickly went viral, sparking an online storm of both support and backlash.
The 79-year-old writer, known for his outspoken views on social and political issues, said he found it deeply disturbing that Indian authorities and certain religious institutions were treating a Taliban minister with reverence. He specifically called out Darul Uloom Deoband, the influential Islamic seminary in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur, for what he described as an “embarrassing display of reverence” toward Muttaqi.
“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,” Akhtar said. “My Indian brothers and sisters!!! What is happening to us?”
His words struck a chord with many Indians who have long opposed the Taliban’s ideology, particularly its harsh restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan. Under the Taliban rule, women have been barred from secondary schools, universities, and most workplaces — a policy that has drawn international condemnation.
Muttaqi’s visit to India comes after the United Nations Security Council’s Taliban Sanctions Committee granted him a temporary travel exemption from the international travel ban imposed on Taliban leaders. The exemption allows him to engage in diplomatic talks in select countries. India, while hosting the Taliban minister, has not yet recognized the Taliban government in Kabul and continues to insist on the formation of a “truly inclusive government” that upholds the rights of women and minorities.
Despite this official stance, images and reports of Muttaqi receiving a formal welcome during his India trip — including his interactions with Indian officials and clerics — have not sat well with many citizens. Critics argue that the warm reception undermines India’s moral position on terrorism and human rights.
Akhtar’s statement has added a human, emotional dimension to this debate. “It’s not about politics alone,” one social media user wrote in response. “It’s about what we stand for as a nation — do we stand with victims of terror or with the ones who justify it?”
The Darul Uloom Deoband, which hosted Muttaqi briefly during his visit, has not issued a detailed statement addressing Akhtar’s criticism. However, sources close to the seminary said the meeting was “purely academic and cultural,” not political. Still, many Indians, including several activists and journalists, have echoed Akhtar’s sentiment, arguing that even symbolic gestures toward the Taliban risk legitimizing an oppressive regime.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs maintained that the visit was part of ongoing diplomatic engagement and did not imply formal recognition of the Taliban government. “There was no intention to exclude women journalists or voices,” an official clarified, referring to concerns that women reporters had limited access during Muttaqi’s appearances.
For Javed Akhtar, though, the issue is far more than diplomatic nuance — it’s a question of conscience. His emotional message captured a sentiment shared by many Indians who believe the nation should remain firm in its moral opposition to extremist ideologies.
As one user commented under his post, “When Javed Saab says he hangs his head in shame, we all should ask ourselves — have we forgotten who we are?”