Afghan Foreign Minister Visits Darul Uloom Deoband, Receives Honorary Title and Warm Welcome

Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi paid a high-profile visit to Darul Uloom Deoband on Saturday as part of his ongoing six-day diplomatic tour of India, marking a significant moment in India-Afghanistan cultural and educational ties.

Muttaqi, who arrived at the iconic Islamic seminary in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district, was welcomed with elaborate ceremonial arrangements and tight security coordination by national and state agencies. His convoy departed from New Delhi around 8:30 AM and reached Deoband by noon.

The seminary administration had issued a list of 15 prominent Ulema (Islamic scholars) to formally receive the Afghan minister. The welcome ceremony was led by Maulana Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani, rector of Darul Uloom Deoband, who personally greeted Muttaqi at the main entrance.

Flower Petals and Selfies: A Grand Homecoming

As the convoy entered the seminary campus, students and faculty showered flower petals on the visiting dignitary. Many students could be seen taking photos and selfies with Muttaqi and his entourage, capturing the sense of excitement surrounding his arrival.

The seminary holds personal significance for Muttaqi, who is considered an alumnus of the Deobandi school of thought. His visit is widely seen as a return to his spiritual and academic roots.

Inside the institution's central library, a scholarly session was held in which Muttaqi read a Hadith (Prophetic tradition) under the guidance of Maulana Nomani. In a symbolic and historic gesture, he was granted the Hadith Sanad (certificate of authority)—a prestigious religious credential—officially authorizing him to teach Hadith.

With the sanad, he also received the right to use the honorific title “Qasmi”, signifying his formal academic connection to Darul Uloom Deoband. He may now be addressed as Maulana Amir Khan Muttaqi Qasmi.

“We Share a Deep Educational Bond,” Says Jamiat President

Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, remarked on the strong historical and academic ties between Afghanistan and Darul Uloom Deoband.

“We share an educational and academic relationship with Afghanistan. He has come to visit his alma mater, and after that, he will hold discussions with us,” Madani said.

Diplomatic and Symbolic Significance

In his address to students and faculty, Amir Khan Muttaqi expressed heartfelt thanks for the grand reception and voiced optimism for improving India-Afghanistan relations.

“I am thankful for such a grand welcome and the affection shown by the people here. I hope that India-Afghanistan ties advance further. We will be sending new diplomats, and I hope you people will visit Kabul as well. From the way I was received in Delhi, I am hopeful these visits may be frequent in the near future,” he said.

Muttaqi’s visit to Deoband is being viewed as more than ceremonial. It signals a renewed outreach by the Taliban government towards India, leveraging shared religious and educational heritage to foster dialogue and rebuild diplomatic bridges that had been frayed in recent years.

Darul Uloom Deoband, founded in 1866, has long held influence over Islamic thought across South and Central Asia, and remains a spiritual and ideological reference point for many Afghan scholars and clerics.

A Strategic Soft Diplomacy Move

Analysts say this visit underscores the Taliban regime’s intent to strengthen soft diplomacy with India, using religious and cultural institutions as platforms for engagement. The conferring of the Hadith sanad and the warm hospitality extended to Muttaqi are seen as clear gestures of goodwill, likely aimed at easing past tensions and opening avenues for future cooperation.