• Source:JND
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Amir Muttaqi Deoband Visit: Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Muttaqi is currently on an official visit to India with the aim of strengthening ties with India. During his week long visit, Muttaqi visited historic Darul Uloom Deoband in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday.

Amir Muttaqi Deoband Itinerary

As per his itinerary, Muttaqi arrived at historic madrasa by road around 10:30 am. Muttaqi will stay at the Islamic Seminary for around five hours. This is the first official visit by a senior Taliban leader to Darul Uloom Deobanda after regime change in Afghanistan.

Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani, the Vice Chancellor of Darul Uloom Deoband, and Maulana Arshad Madani, President of the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, are two prominent Islamic scholars Muttaqi is likely to meet during his seminary visit. He will also explore the campus and hold discussions with the faculty and leadership.

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Why Is Muttaqi Visiting Darul Uloom Deoband

During a press conference on Friday, Muttaqi was asked about his visit to Deoband. In response to the reporter, as to why he is visiting Darul Uloom Deonand, Muttaqi appreciated the historic Madarssa, claiming that Afghanistan has deep-rooted and historic ties with the Islamic Seminary.

He further said, “why people visit Darul Uloom, to offer prayer, to meet students”. He continued with his response, saying that ‘Akbreen Ulama of Deoband and Afghanistan have deep-rooted ties’ and his visit to Deoband aims at restoring the long-standing connection.

Afghanistan-Deoband Ties

The Taliban Foundation has a centuries-old connection with Darul Uloom Deoband in Uttar Pradesh. Maulana Abdul Haq, the founder of Darul Uloom Haqqania, studied and taught in Darul Uloom Deoband before partition in 1947. Later, his son, Sami-ul-Haque, succeeded him at Darul Uloom Haqqania. Sami is also known as the ‘Father of the Taliban’ for Darul Uloom Haqqania’s role in grooming fighters of the Taliban.

Muttaqi Visit To Deoband: A Spiritual Diplomacy To Reduce Dependence On Pakistan
As per experts in the political landscape, the religious stopover is actually an unmistakable political move to shift dynamics in South Asia, as Afghanistan aspires to reduce dependence on Pakistan.

As per sources in the Taliban and New Delhi quoted by CNN-News18, the Taliban sees Deoband as a “spiritual diplomacy hub” that could serve as a catalyst for cultural and political talks with India.

By tracing its ideological roots to Deoband, the Taliban aspires to reclaim its spiritual identity from Pakistan’s political group. Pakistan has long leveraged its association with Deoband to legitimize its influence on Afghanistan. Now Afghanistan’s top diplomat is heading to Deoband, challenging the monopoly that Pakistan has enjoyed over Deobanism.