Why Deoband Made It to the Taliban FM’s India Itinerary
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, is on a seven-day official visit to India. Unusually, his itinerary includes a stop at Darul Uloom Deoband, the historic Islamic seminary in Uttar Pradesh.
Visit Plan & Significance
- Schedule & Engagements
Muttaqi is expected to arrive at Deoband in the morning and spend nearly five hours at the seminary. During this time, he will meet leading religious figures such as Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani, the head of Darul Uloom, and Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind. He will also tour the campus, interact with faculty, and attend institutional discussions. - Symbolic and Ideological Roots
The inclusion of Deoband is highly symbolic. Darul Uloom Deoband is a globally respected seminary whose theological teachings have shaped numerous institutions across South Asia. Its influence extends to seminaries in Pakistan, including Darul Uloom Haqqania, long regarded as a breeding ground for Taliban ideology. Many Taliban leaders studied there, and its founder had close links with Deoband before partition.
Broader Diplomatic Context & Constraints
- Travel Sanction Hurdles
The visit faced initial delays due to UN travel restrictions, but an exemption was eventually granted, allowing Muttaqi’s travel to proceed. - India–Taliban Engagements
The visit follows growing, cautious engagement between India and the Taliban regime. Indian officials have previously met Taliban representatives in Kabul, and Afghan delegations have participated in trade and health events in India. - Itinerary Beyond Deoband
Beyond Deoband, Muttaqi’s itinerary includes a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra and meetings with industry leaders in New Delhi, hosted by a prominent business chamber.
