Javed Akhtar Condemns India’s Reception of Taliban Foreign Minister

Renowned Indian lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has sharply criticized the Indian government and officials for extending a warm welcome to Afghanistan’s Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Akhtar said the move has left him “ashamed” and “deeply disappointed.”

In a post on social media platform X, Javed Akhtar wrote, “I feel ashamed to see that representatives of one of the world’s worst terrorist groups — the Taliban — are being welcomed and respected by the same people who give lectures against terrorism.”

Amir Khan Muttaqi is currently on a six-day official visit to India, marking the first such trip by a Taliban official since the group retook control of Afghanistan in 2021. The visit reportedly aims to discuss humanitarian aid, trade cooperation, and regional security matters.

Akhtar’s statement has sparked debate across Indian media and social platforms, with many echoing his concerns about the inconsistency between India’s stated anti-terrorism stance and its diplomatic engagement with the Taliban regime.