Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held a press conference at the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi on Friday. While a Taliban flag stood on a table in front of him, a painting of the Bamiyan Buddha statues hung on the wall behind him. The picture has since gone viral on social media, with many calling it an “ironic” moment from the presser.
The painting of the statues behind the minister during the presser is ironic since the Taliban regime in 2001 destroyed both the statues using explosives. They reasoned that the statues were “un-Islamic”. However, a Taliban envoy later clarified that the government’s decision was made in anger after a foreign delegation offered money to preserve the ancient monuments while millions of Afghans were starving, NYT reported.
Internet points out the ‘great irony’
Reacting to the picture, one social media said, “The photograph serves as a subtle testament to resilience and the irony of history. It is a moment where events, symbolism, and poetic justice converge in quiet yet unmistakable witness.”
“Afghan FM Muttaqi in New Delhi, speaking against extremism… with the Bamiyan Buddha watching over him. History has its own sense of irony,” added another.
A third commented, “The same which was destroyed by the Taliban, right?”
“People who destroyed Buddha are sitting in front of it with huge respect,” read a fourth comment.
A fifth posted, “The great Irony!”
Afghan Foreign Minister in India
At the press conference, only male journalists were present. Since there were no flags of the Taliban, they brought a small tabletop flag representing their regime and placed it on the table, The Indian Express reported.
When asked about women’s rights being violated in Afghanistan, the minister called it “propaganda”, adding that the country has “Shariah” and “everybody has rights”.
“Under the Taliban, the situation in Afghanistan has improved for the better. Before August 15, 2021, there were at least 200-400 deaths every day. Today, that has stopped. Have you seen any protests taking place? No, people are happy,” he said.
Muttaqi, who arrived in India on Thursday, held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday. The meeting had no flags of either side, and Indians addressed him as the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, thereby avoiding the debate of Republic vs Emirate. The meeting included India’s announcement that its technical mission in Kabul would be elevated to an embassy, a move that was well received by Afghanistan’s foreign minister.
“India is fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan. I am pleased to announce the upgrading of India’s Technical Mission to the status of embassy,” Jaishankar said.