Afghan FM Muttaqi Schedules Deoband Visit Saturday, Taj Mahal Tour Sunday
First high-profile Taliban ministerial visit to India in four years to include meetings with clerics and cultural site tours
SAHARANPUR/AGRA, Oct 11: Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is set to visit Deoband in Saharanpur district on Saturday and Agra on Sunday as part of his six-day India tour, officials confirmed.
During his day long visit to Deoband, Muttaqi will tour Darul Uloom Deoband, one of South Asia’s most prominent Islamic seminaries, and meet senior clerics, scholars, and administrators. He is expected to arrive around noon and return to Delhi by evening.
Superintendent of Police (Saharanpur Rural) Sagar Jain said comprehensive security arrangements have been put in place, with coordination between district authorities, intelligence units, and Darul Uloom officials to ensure a smooth visit. Mufti Rehan Usmani, in charge at the seminary, confirmed that Muttaqi will meet Rector Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani, and other senior clerics. The minister will also interact with Afghan students and tour the seminary’s historic library.
On Sunday, Muttaqi will travel to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal, departing Delhi around 8 am via the Yamuna Expressway and reaching Shilpgram near the monument’s eastern gate by 11 am. He will tour the monument in an electric golf cart and spend approximately 90 minutes before returning to Delhi. Agra authorities have deployed tight security for the high profile visit.
This visit marks the first trip to India by a senior Taliban minister since the group assumed power in Afghanistan four years ago. It carries added diplomatic significance amid heightened tensions between India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan over cross border security and regional issues.
The Afghan FM’s itinerary reflects a blend of religious, cultural, and diplomatic engagements, highlighting India’s effort to maintain engagement with Afghanistan despite regional complexities.
