Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visits Darul Uloom Deoband, expressing hope for closer India-Afghanistan ties and joint work on Iran’s Chabahar port project.

Saharanpur (UP): In a rare diplomatic outreach, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Saturday visited the Darul Uloom Deoband, one of South Asia’s most prominent Islamic seminaries, expressing optimism about a “new chapter” in India-Afghanistan relations.

Muttaqi, who arrived in Deoband by road from Delhi with a delegation, was greeted with floral showers and warm applause by students and scholars. Darul Uloom’s vice-chancellor Abul Qasim Nomani and Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani personally received him. Despite tight security, hundreds gathered to catch a glimpse of the visiting minister the first senior Taliban official to travel to India since the group assumed power four years ago.

Speaking to reporters, Muttaqi thanked the Indian people for their hospitality and said, “We will be sending new diplomats soon. I hope you will visit Kabul as well. The warmth of the welcome in Delhi and Deoband gives me confidence that our relations will grow stronger.”

The Afghan minister also called for India and Afghanistan to cooperate on the Chabahar port project in Iran, a key trade route affected by U.S. sanctions under the Trump administration. He said both nations should “work together to remove obstacles” to regional connectivity and economic growth.

Extensive security measures were in place during the visit, coordinated by Indian intelligence and Afghan embassy officials. Muttaqi’s trip his first official engagement in India  comes amid strained relations both nations share with Pakistan over issues like cross-border terrorism.

Analysis:
Muttaqi’s visit signals a quiet diplomatic thaw between Delhi and Kabul, even without formal recognition of the Taliban regime. For Uttar Pradesh, the event also reflects Deoband’s continued symbolic importance in global Islamic diplomacy. Experts believe that if India engages cautiously, such visits could pave the way for stability-focused cooperation without compromising national interests.