Muttaqi's Deoband visit: driven by personal connection & religious diplomacy, Pg23.

Key Highlights:

• Amir Khan Muttaqi, Afghanistan's Foreign Minister, visited the Darul Uloom seminary in Deoband, Uttar Pradesh.
• The Indian government facilitated the visit following a request from the Taliban leader.
• Darul Uloom Deoband, established in 1866, is a historic Islamic seminary and the origin of the Deobandi movement.
• The visit is viewed as a form of religious diplomacy, amidst India's engagement with the Taliban regime.

Detailed Insights:

• Darul Uloom Deoband sought to resist Western influences during colonial rule and is now a renowned religious center.
• Darul Uloom Haqqania, established in Pakistan, became a training ground for Afghan resistance fighters after the Soviet invasion.
• Figures like Mullah Omar and Jalaluddin Haqqani, who later formed the Taliban, studied at Darul Uloom Haqqania.
• India's decision to allow Muttaqi's visit is significant given its engagement with the Taliban and proactive Pakistan-Afghanistan ties.
• Darul Uloom Deoband has supported girls' education, contrasting with the Taliban's ideology, sending a message to the group.
• India has previously employed religious diplomacy, such as Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's visit to Lucknow in 1995, to engage with Islamic countries.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Deobandi Movement: A Sunni revivalist movement emphasizing piety and resisting Western influences.
• Religious Diplomacy: Using religious engagement to foster diplomatic relations and convey messages.
• Fatwas: Legal pronouncements in Islam, often given by religious scholars or Muftis.