Web Desk: A remark by Afghanistan’s Agriculture Minister, Mawlawi Ataullah Omari, during a visit to New Delhi has sparked widespread criticism on social media after he said Indians and Afghans share the “same DNA” and that he felt he was “among his own people” while in India.
A video of the minister’s comments has circulated widely online, prompting a wave of reactions, particularly from Afghan social media users.
Speaking during his visit to India, Omari thanked Indian authorities for their hospitality and said he did not feel like a stranger during his stay.
“I felt as though I was among my own people,” he said, adding that the people of India and Afghanistan shared “the same DNA,” according to the widely shared video.
The comments quickly gained traction across social media platforms, where users debated both the statement and its broader political implications.
Meanwhile, many Afghan social media users criticized the minister’s remarks, arguing they were inappropriate and unnecessarily controversial.
Some users alleged that the comments appeared intended to curry favor with the Indian government, while others described the “shared DNA” reference as insensitive and out of touch with public sentiment.
The backlash has also led to calls from some online users for Omari to withdraw his remarks and issue a public apology.
Neither the Afghan authorities nor the minister had publicly responded to the criticism at the time of writing.
The comments come as India and Afghanistan continue efforts to maintain diplomatic engagement following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, with recent contacts focusing on humanitarian assistance, trade and regional cooperation.
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