Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is scheduled to visit Deoband in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday and Agra on Sunday as part of his official six-day trip to India, confirmed officials.
During his visit to Deoband, Muttaqi will tour the historic Darul Uloom Deoband, one of South Asia’s leading Islamic seminaries. He plans to engage with senior clerics, scholars, and the institution’s administrators to discuss matters of mutual interest.
Muttaqi will arrive in Deoband around noon and is expected to return to Delhi by evening, according to local police authorities.
Superintendent of Police (Saharanpur Rural) Sagar Jain stated that comprehensive security measures are in place, including deployments from police and intelligence units across the area. The district administration collaborates closely with Darul Uloom officials to ensure seamless arrangements for the minister’s visit.
Darul Uloom’s office in-charge Mufti Rehan Usmani confirmed plans for the visit, noting, “We expected him to stay for two days, but due to a packed schedule, it has been shortened to one day. He will meet Rector Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani, and other senior clerics.”
In addition to meetings, Muttaqi will engage with Afghan students at the seminary and tour its historic library, which houses thousands of rare Islamic manuscripts. News of his visit has stirred excitement among students and local residents.
On Sunday, the Afghan Foreign Minister shifts focus to Agra, where he aims to visit the Taj Mahal. Officials disclosed that he will leave Delhi around 8 a.m. via the Yamuna Expressway, arriving at Shilpgram by 11 a.m.
Authorities plan to transport him to the Taj Mahal in an electric golf cart, allowing him to spend roughly an hour and a half at the UNESCO World Heritage Site before returning to Delhi in the afternoon.
Agra officials assure that elaborate security arrangements are in place for this high-profile visit. A senior official emphasized, “No lapses will be tolerated, and security will remain tight throughout his stay.”
This visit represents the first trip to India by a senior Taliban minister since the group’s return to power in Kabul four years ago. Its timing holds strategic significance, given the current state of ties between India and Afghanistan, especially in relation to their shared concerns regarding cross-border terrorism and regional security issues.
