Afghan FM Amir Khan Muttaqi Visits Darul Uloom Deoband, Hails Bright Future for India-Afghanistan Ties

Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived at Darul Uloom Deoband in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, where he was warmly welcomed by scholars and locals. Speaking on the occasion, Muttaqi expressed his gratitude, saying, “The journey so far has been wonderful. Not only the people of Darul Uloom, but all the people of the region have come here. I am thankful for this warm welcome.”

Positive Outlook for Bilateral Relations
Commenting on India-Afghanistan relations, Muttaqi said the future looks very bright for both countries. This marks his first visit to India since assuming office in 2021. During his visit from October 9th to 14th, he also met with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and engaged in discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.

Engagement with Students and Clerics
During his visit to Deoband, Muttaqi is scheduled to interact with Afghan students studying at the seminary and tour its historic library. He emphasized the importance of Darul Uloom as a spiritual and educational center, noting that a large number of Afghan students come here to pursue diverse fields of study, including engineering.

Historical Significance of Darul Uloom
Established in 1866 by Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotvi and Haji Abid Hussain, Darul Uloom Deoband is considered the birthplace of the Deobandi school of Sunni Islam. Its reformist ideology, aimed at purifying Islam from Western influences, has historically influenced Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Afghan scholars were among the first foreign students to study at Deoband, later establishing madrasas in their home country based on its curriculum.

Link to Taliban Ideology
Darul Uloom Deoband’s teachings have historically influenced the Afghan Taliban. Senior Taliban commanders studied at Darul Uloom Haqqania in Pakistan, which was modeled on Deoband. Maulana Abdul Haq, the founder of Haqqania, studied and taught at Deoband, and his son, Sami ul-Haq, was later known as the “Father of the Taliban” due to the seminary’s role in shaping the movement.

Muttaqi highlighted that the visit is part of broader efforts to foster religious and educational exchanges between Afghanistan and India, reflecting the deep historical ties between the two nations.