Noted lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has publicly expressed strong disapproval of the reception accorded to Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in India, saying he “hangs his head in shame.” Muttaqi is on a six-day visit to India — the first visit by a Taliban minister since the group took power in Afghanistan in 2021. Akhtar’s criticism was triggered in particular by the “reverent welcome” Muttaqi received at Darul Uloom Deoband, an influential Islamic seminary in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. He wrote on X: “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… 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 also condemned the exclusion of women journalists from Muttaqi’s initial press conference in New Delhi, calling it discriminatory and raising serious questions about India's stance on gender equity. While India has not officially recognized the Taliban government, it has engaged diplomatically — including granting special travel exemptions for Muttaqi. Opposition leaders and media bodies have also criticized the reception, describing it as a normalization of relations with a regime known for oppressive policies, especially toward women. The row underscores tensions in Indian public opinion about balancing strategic diplomacy with moral and human rights concerns.