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By re-engaging with the Indian source of the Deobandi school, Kabul is attempting to shift its spiritual and cultural centre of gravity away from Pakistan, observers say
Muttaqi praised Deoband as a ‘Madre Ilm’ (Mother of Knowledge), stating that Afghanistan draws its spiritual strength from the Indian seminary, which has inspired generations of Afghan ulema. Image/News18
Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s high-profile visit to the Darul Uloom Deoband seminary has been hailed by top diplomatic sources as a turning point in South Asian Islamic diplomacy, signalling Kabul’s strategic intent to redefine Afghan Islam away from the clerical control of Rawalpindi.
Addressing scholars at the venerable institution, Muttaqi praised Deoband as a “Madre Ilm” (Mother of Knowledge), stating that Afghanistan draws its spiritual strength from the Indian seminary, which has inspired generations of Afghan ulema. In a significant ideological statement, Muttaqi emphasised that a true Deobandi stands for moderation, unity of the Ummah (global Muslim community), and peaceful coexistence, a narrative that firmly rejects violence done in the name of Islam. He also thanked the Indian scholars for their pivotal role in preserving this school of knowledge and discipline.
The significance of the visit was underscored by a prominent Deobandi Maulvi who welcomed Muttaqi as a student “returning to his school”, asserting that ilm (knowledge) and akhlaq (character), not war, define the real Deobandi ethos. The Maulvi highlighted the shared spiritual heritage between India and Afghanistan, stressing that dialogue through scholarship holds the key to managing political divides and restoring “aman aur insaaf” (peace and justice) in the region.
Diplomatic observers suggest this visit is a profound geopolitical move by the Taliban regime. By re-engaging with the Indian source of the Deobandi school, Kabul is attempting to shift its spiritual and cultural centre of gravity away from Pakistan. Previously, the Taliban were ideologically anchored to Pakistan’s Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak, a seminary often dubbed the “University of Jihad” due to its methods and content of instruction. Muttaqi’s pilgrimage to India’s Deoband thus positions Kabul as a self-confident Islamic state seeking an independent spiritual identity, deliberately weakening its decades-long attachment to the Pakistani clerical establishment. The move is seen as an attempt to leverage India’s spiritual strength to reposition Afghan Islam beyond Rawalpindi’s influence.
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
October 11, 2025, 7:44 PM IST
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