Key Highlights
- Veteran screenwriter Javed Akhtar strongly criticized India’s reception of Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi during his historic visit to New Delhi
- Muttaqi’s six-day India visit marks the first by a Taliban leader since the group seized power in Afghanistan in 2021
- The Taliban has banned 2.2 million Afghan girls from secondary education and imposed severe restrictions on women’s rights since taking control
Opening Overview
Renowned lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has expressed deep shame over India’s reception of Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, calling it an unacceptable welcome for the “representative of the world’s worst terrorist group.” Javed Akhtar on reception criticism centers on what he perceives as India’s contradictory approach to terrorism, particularly the warm reception given to Muttaqi at influential institutions like Darul Uloom Deoband. The veteran artist’s public condemnation highlights the complex diplomatic challenges surrounding the Taliban’s systematic suppression of women’s rights and educational freedoms. This vocal stance by Javed Akhtar on reception of Taliban leadership has sparked nationwide debate about India’s evolving diplomatic stance toward the regime.
What harm has Taliban done to India in last 4 years? Zero
— SIFF – Save Indian Family Foundation (@realsiff) October 14, 2025
Javed Akhtar hates taliban because they are strong anti-feminists who oppose reels culture. Why shd India lose it's strategic objectives by standing for feminism? What has feminism given 2 India?
https://t.co/57rjM7XxRU
Akhtar’s Scathing Critique of Taliban Reception
The celebrated writer took to social media platform X to voice his outrage over the reception accorded to Muttaqi during his October 9-16 visit to India. His criticism specifically targeted two aspects of the Taliban Foreign Minister’s visit that he found particularly troubling. The passionate remarks by Javed Akhtar on reception represent a broader concern among intellectuals and human rights advocates.
- Akhtar condemned the “respect and reception” given to someone he described as representing the “world’s worst terrorist group”
- He expressed particular dismay at Darul Uloom Deoband’s “reverent welcome” to what he termed their “Islamic Hero”
“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,” Akhtar wrote on Monday. His detailed comments by Javed Akhtar on reception extended to questioning India’s consistency in its anti-terrorism stance, particularly when the same institutions that typically condemn terrorist activities provided ceremonial welcomes to Taliban leadership.
The screenwriter’s pointed reference to Deoband’s reception underscored his concern about religious institutions endorsing figures associated with systematic human rights violations, especially given the Taliban’s complete ban on girls’ education. This vocal criticism by Javed Akhtar on reception has resonated with many who view the Taliban’s policies as fundamentally incompatible with democratic values.
Taliban’s Systematic Suppression of Women’s Education
The context for the strong position taken by Javed Akhtar on reception becomes clearer when examining the Taliban’s devastating impact on women’s education since 2021. International data reveals the staggering scale of educational deprivation under Taliban rule. The ongoing condemnation by Javed Akhtar on reception must be understood against this backdrop of systematic oppression.
- UNESCO reports that 2.2 million Afghan girls are currently banned from attending school beyond primary level
- The UN estimates that 1.4 million girls have been “deliberately deprived” of their right to education during the Taliban’s three-year rule
- Afghanistan remains the only country globally that prohibits girls and women from accessing secondary education and universities
According to UN reports, approximately 80 percent of Afghan girls of school age—totaling 2.5 million—are currently being denied their educational rights. The Taliban’s educational restrictions, which they claim align with their interpretation of Islam, have created what UNESCO describes as a situation where “the future of an entire generation is now at risk”.
These concerns raised by Javed Akhtar on reception are amplified by evidence showing that despite the ongoing ban, over 90 percent of Afghan adults actually support girls’ right to education, indicating the Taliban’s policies contradict even local sentiment. The economic impact of these restrictions is equally severe, with the United Nations Development Programme estimating that banning women from employment costs Afghanistan approximately $1 billion annually, representing 5% of the country’s GDP. Such statistics provide crucial context for understanding the intensity of the statements by Javed Akhtar on reception from various quarters.
India’s Diplomatic Balancing Act with Taliban
India’s engagement with the Taliban reflects a complex “engagement without recognition” strategy that has drawn both criticism and pragmatic support. The diplomatic approach represents a significant shift from India’s historical opposition to Taliban rule. However, this strategic shift has also intensified the critique by Javed Akhtar on reception from various stakeholders.
- India announced plans to upgrade its technical mission in Kabul to full embassy status during Muttaqi’s visit
- The visit marks the first high-level Taliban engagement with India since the group’s 2021 takeover
- No country except Russia has formally recognized the Taliban government, though several nations maintain diplomatic relations
Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar’s meetings with Muttaqi resulted in concrete diplomatic upgrades, with India deciding to reopen its embassy in Kabul after a four-year closure. The sharp observations by Javed Akhtar on reception notwithstanding, Indian officials have emphasized that “engagement does not equate to endorsement,” particularly regarding minority rights, gender rights, and overall human rights situations in Afghanistan.
The pragmatic approach reflects India’s concerns about deteriorating relations with Pakistan and growing Chinese influence in the region, leading analysts to describe it as a necessary strategic recalibration. International recognition remains elusive for the Taliban, with Western countries maintaining their refusal to recognize the regime due to human rights violations, terrorism concerns, and discriminatory policies. Despite diplomatic necessities, the forceful commentary by Javed Akhtar on reception continues to challenge India’s carefully balanced approach to regional geopolitics.
International Isolation and Recognition Challenges
The Taliban’s quest for international legitimacy faces substantial obstacles despite some diplomatic progress with regional powers. The group’s international standing remains precarious due to systematic human rights violations and restrictive policies. International observers have echoed the sentiments expressed by Javed Akhtar on reception, questioning whether diplomatic engagement legitimizes authoritarian regimes.
- Only Russia has formally recognized the Taliban government as of 2025, becoming the first country to do so
- Most high-ranking Taliban officials remain on the UN Security Council’s Consolidated Sanctions List
- The Taliban’s interim cabinet includes individuals subject to international sanctions, including acting Interior Minister Serajuddin Haqqani
Russia’s decision to recognize the Taliban government in July 2025 marked a significant milestone for the diplomatically isolated regime, with bilateral trade projected to increase from $1 billion in 2024 to $3 billion in 2025. However, broader international recognition remains distant due to the Taliban’s failure to meet key criteria including inclusivity, democratic legitimacy, and respect for human rights.
The moral concerns voiced by Javed Akhtar on reception reflect deeper international concerns about legitimizing a regime that has systematically excluded women from public life and imposed what the UN has termed “gender apartheid”. China, Pakistan, UAE, and Uzbekistan have established de facto relations through diplomatic discussions, but have stopped short of formal recognition, highlighting the international community’s cautious approach to Taliban engagement. This cautious stance aligns with the spirit of the principled stand taken by Javed Akhtar on reception voiced by human rights advocates globally.
Closing Assessment
The sharp condemnation by Javed Akhtar on reception encapsulates the moral dilemma facing nations attempting to engage with the Taliban regime while maintaining commitments to human rights and women’s equality. His condemnation reflects broader concerns about the normalization of interactions with a government that has systematically oppressed half its population and eliminated fundamental freedoms for Afghan women and girls. The controversy surrounding Muttaqi’s visit underscores the challenging balance between pragmatic diplomatic engagement and principled opposition to human rights violations, particularly when 2.2 million girls remain banned from education under Taliban rule.
As India navigates its complex relationship with Afghanistan, the ongoing critique by Javed Akhtar on reception serves as a reminder that diplomatic convenience should not overshadow the fundamental values of education, equality, and human dignity that remain under assault in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The sustained moral position maintained by Javed Akhtar on reception from intellectuals ensures that these considerations remain at the forefront of public discourse.
