Saharanpur (UP): Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Saturday expressed optimism about the future of India-Afghanistan relations, thanking the Indian people for the warm reception he received during his visit to the historic Darul Uloom Deoband in Saharanpur — one of South Asia’s most prominent Islamic seminaries.
“We will be sending new diplomats, and I hope you will visit Kabul as well. The welcome I received in Delhi gives me confidence that our relations will strengthen further. Such visits may become more frequent in the near future,” Muttaqi said.
The Afghan foreign minister, who travelled from Delhi to Deoband by road with his delegation, was greeted by Darul Uloom Deoband Vice-Chancellor Maulana Abul Qasim Nomani, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani, and other senior officials of the seminary amid floral tributes and cheers from students and locals.
Hundreds of students and residents gathered at the campus to catch a glimpse of the visiting dignitary, though security personnel prevented them from approaching him closely.
“I am deeply grateful for this warm welcome and the affection shown by the people here. I sincerely hope that India-Afghanistan ties will continue to flourish,” Muttaqi told reporters.
Security arrangements were tightened ahead of the visit, with intelligence and law enforcement agencies coordinating closely. Officials from the Afghan embassy in New Delhi arrived on Friday to review preparations with Darul Uloom authorities.
Muttaqi, who landed in New Delhi on Thursday for a six-day official visit, is the first senior Taliban minister to visit India since the group took power four years ago. India has yet to formally recognise the Taliban-led government.
On Friday, Muttaqi stated that Kabul would soon send diplomats to India as part of “step-by-step” efforts to rebuild bilateral relations, while reaffirming that Afghanistan would not allow its territory to be used against any other country.
He also urged India and Afghanistan to cooperate in overcoming challenges to the development of Iran’s Chabahar Port, which has faced setbacks following U.S. sanctions imposed during the Trump administration.
Muttaqi’s visit carries significant diplomatic weight, coming at a time when both India and Afghanistan share strained relations with Pakistan over issues including cross-border terrorism.
