Veteran poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar has publicly criticized the Indian government for extending what he called a “warm and respectful welcome” to Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who arrived in New Delhi earlier this week.
Muttaqi’s visit marked the first high-level Taliban delegation to India since the group seized control of Afghanistan in 2021. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs described the meeting as part of an ongoing engagement with “all stakeholders in Afghanistan,” but the optics of the event have sparked widespread debate.
On X (formerly Twitter), Akhtar didn’t mince his words.
“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, Taliban, by those who beat the pulpit against all kinds of terrorists,” he wrote.
He went further, criticizing Darul Uloom Deoband, one of India’s most influential Islamic seminaries, for hosting the Taliban minister during his visit.
“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?” Akhtar said in another post.
The comments have triggered a wave of reactions online — some applauding Akhtar for speaking up, while others accused him of politicizing a diplomatic visit.
Background and Controversy
Muttaqi, representing Afghanistan’s Taliban-led administration, arrived in Delhi for a series of discussions reportedly focused on humanitarian aid and regional security. India has not officially recognized the Taliban regime but has maintained limited diplomatic channels, citing the need to protect Indian interests and the Afghan people.
However, the visit drew criticism after women journalists were barred from attending one of the press interactions involving the Afghan delegation — a move widely condemned as reflecting the Taliban’s regressive stance on women’s rights.
Political figures also joined the criticism. Former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti labeled the government’s actions “hypocritical,” saying those who lecture others about terrorism are now “rolling out the red carpet for the Taliban.”
Deoband Responds
Leaders from Darul Uloom Deoband pushed back against Akhtar’s remarks, arguing that extending courtesy to a foreign visitor doesn’t equate to endorsing Taliban ideology.
“Hospitality is part of our tradition. Meeting someone doesn’t mean we support their views,” said one senior cleric, speaking to local media.
Still, Akhtar’s comments have reignited broader questions about India’s foreign policy approach toward Afghanistan’s new rulers — and whether diplomacy should cross moral lines when human rights are at stake.
For many, his words echo a deeper unease: how far can political pragmatism go before it starts looking like acceptance?
