Afghanistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Maulana Amir Khan Muttaqi visited the Darul Uloom Deoband Islamic seminary in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Saturday &mdash; his first visit to India since the Taliban assumed power in 2021.&nbsp;
The visit, rich in symbolism, marks an effort by the Taliban government to reinforce religious, educational, and diplomatic engagement with India.
The seminary administration organized a grand reception for Muttaqi, enlisting 15 prominent Ulema (Islamic scholars) to welcome him. 
Security in and around Deoband was tightened with coordination between national and state agencies.
Muttaqi&rsquo;s convoy left New Delhi at around 8:30 a.m. and reached Deoband by noon.&nbsp;
The visit followed his meetings with several Indian officials in Delhi on Friday as part of his ongoing six-day trip to India.
At Darul Uloom, the welcome ceremony was led by Maulana Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani, the seminary&rsquo;s rector, alongside senior scholars. 
Students and faculty greeted Muttaqi with flower petals, while many students gathered to take selfies with the Afghan minister and his entourage.
During a scholarly session inside the seminary&rsquo;s central library, Muttaqi studied a Hadith (Prophetic tradition) under Maulana Nomani. 
He then sought and received permission to teach Hadith, after which the rector conferred upon him the Hadith Sanad (certificate of authority). 
This earned him the right to use the honorary title &ldquo;Qasmi&rdquo;, signifying his academic association with the prestigious institution. 
He may now formally refer to himself as Maulana Amir Khan Muttaqi Qasmi.
Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, said, &ldquo;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.&rdquo;
In his address, Muttaqi expressed gratitude for the warm reception and optimism for the future of India-Afghanistan relations.&nbsp;
He stated, &ldquo;I am thankful for such a grand welcome and the affection shown by the people here. I hope India-Afghanistan ties advance further. We will be sending new diplomats, and I hope you will visit Kabul as well. From the way I was received in Delhi, I believe such visits will become more frequent.&rdquo;
Muttaqi&rsquo;s visit to Darul Uloom Deoband &mdash; an institution long regarded as an ideological and spiritual influence for Afghan clerics &mdash; holds deep symbolic significance, representing a step by the Taliban government toward reviving engagement with India after years of diplomatic strain.

Muttaqi welcomed warmly at Darul Uloom Deoband

Taliban minister’s Deoband visit marks renewed religious, educational outreach to India

Afghan FM Muttaqi Visits Deoband, Gets Sanad

Taliban minister’s Deoband visit marks renewed religious, educational outreach to India

October 11, 2025 | 22:52 IST