The shocking US-Israel assault on Iran, culminating in the demise of Ayatollah Khamenei, has sent shockwaves across the Muslim world and beyond. From the Gulf states to Indian drawing rooms, outrage simmers. Amid calls for India’s diplomatic pushback, celebrated wordsmith Javed Akhtar has a radical prescription: unleash China as the final check on Western hubris.
Taking to X, Akhtar lambasted the strikes as overreach. ‘Netanyahu and Trump, like all bullies, have backed others into a corner,’ he wrote. ‘Grant them free rein to bully Iran as they did Iraq, and China forfeits its global standing.’ His words frame the attack not just as aggression, but as a litmus test for international order.
Reactions poured in swiftly. Some users echoed the need to rein in the duo, fearing India’s vulnerability in any escalation. Others mocked Akhtar’s stance, labeling it biased favoritism toward Iran. Recall Akhtar’s past: he once denounced the Taliban in unflinching terms, calling them barbaric and unworthy of respect.
Akhtar’s commentary often bridges Bollywood flair with sharp political insight. On internal Indian matters or foreign flare-ups, he speaks freely, positioning himself as a conscience of the nation. This latest salvo invites scrutiny: does invoking China signal a shift in alliances, or a desperate bid for equilibrium? As the world watches Iran’s response, Akhtar’s provocative stance amplifies the chorus demanding restraint from the powers that be.