Javed Akhtar Fumes Over India Hosting Taliban's Amir Khan Muttaqi, Says, ‘I Hang My Head in Shame’

Advertisment

Bollywood lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has recently shared a post on X criticizing the grand reception of Taliban minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Monday. He regarded the Taliban as the “worst terrorist group” in the world.

Akhtar’s condemnation did not stop at the government officials; he reproached Darul Uloom Deoband, an Islamic seminary in the Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. Deoband is considered one of the most influential Islamic seminaries in South Asia. Akhtar was repulsed by the “respect and reception” offered to the Taliban minister.

Javed Akhtar‘s Take on Taliban Minister’s Grand Reception

Javed Akhtar wrote about his disapproval of Amir Khan Muttaqi’s reception on X, saying, “I hang my head in shame when I see the kind of respect and reception has been given to the representative of the world’s worst terrorists group Taliban by those who beat the pulpit against all kind of terrorists.”

Advertisment

Upon arriving in India, the Taliban minister also visited the Deoband Islamic Seminar and was received warmly. Akhtar criticized this gesture and lashed out at the seminary as well, “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 n sisters!!! what is happening to us.” 

undefined

Amir Muttaqi Restricted Women from Attending the Press Conference

The first day of Amir Muttaqi’s visit to the Afghan Embassy in Delhi sparked controversy as women were prohibited from attending the press conference. The opposition leaders and journalists in India sharply condemned this gender discrimination by the Taliban minister.

Muttaqi was also asked about this bigotry against women, to which he responded that it was all part of a “propaganda.” “We have the Shariah there, and everybody has rights. Each country has its own traditions and customs,” he said.

Advertisment

The Taliban minister, following the nationwide commotion towards discrimination against women, regarded the exclusion to be “more of a technical issue” and called for another press conference, without excluding women this time.

To sum up, Javed Akhtar has publicly criticized India's diplomatic engagement with the Taliban, specifically the reception of their Foreign Minister, Amir Muttaqi, and the warm welcome he received at Darul Uloom Deoband. Akhtar regards the Taliban as one of the worst terrorist groups in the world and firmly believes that this kind of treatment should not be offered to them.