Amir Khan Muttaqi’s Deoband Visit: Bridging Afghanistan and India

Afghanistan’s interim Foreign Minister, Maulana Amir Khan Muttaqi, recently undertook a highly symbolic journey to the esteemed Darul Uloom Deoband in Uttar Pradesh. This visit, his first to India since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, underscores the profound historical and religious connections between Afghanistan and the renowned Islamic seminary. The reception was notably grand, with Muttaqi greeted by a select group of 15 leading Islamic scholars and extensive security arrangements coordinated across regional and national levels. Maulana Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani, the rector, led the welcome, as students and faculty showered petals upon the visiting minister. A significant academic moment occurred when Muttaqi participated in a Hadith study session and was later granted the honor of teaching it. He received a Sanad, a certificate of authority, bestowing upon him the distinguished title ‘Qasmi,’ formally linking him to the legacy of Darul Uloom. He is now recognized as Maulana Amir Khan Muttaqi Qasmi. Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani highlighted the shared academic heritage, referring to Muttaqi’s presence as a homecoming to his alma mater. Muttaqi conveyed his appreciation for the hospitality, expressing optimism for enhanced India-Afghanistan relations and inviting Indian dignitaries to visit Kabul. His visit is a key diplomatic engagement, as he is the most senior Taliban official to visit India since 2021. Previously, he held talks with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, signaling India’s deliberate approach to engaging with the current Afghan administration. Muttaqi articulated Deoband’s importance in the global Islamic discourse and its historical significance for Afghanistan, advocating for continued student exchanges for religious education. Established in the late 19th century, Darul Uloom Deoband remains a pivotal institution for Islamic scholarship in South Asia, offering a comprehensive curriculum that even includes studies on Hinduism for cultural awareness. The seminary’s influence extends deeply into Afghan religious communities, with many Taliban figures educated or influenced by its teachings and affiliated institutions. Muttaqi’s visit therefore represents a strategic diplomatic move that also deeply honors the enduring cultural and religious bonds connecting Afghanistan and India.