Afghanistan Foreign Minister curtails visit to Darul Uloom Deoband amid controversy around women journos

Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi , who was visiting Deoband on Saturday, cut short his visit and returned to Delhi amid controversy surrounding women journalists who had come to cover the engagement.

His speech at the Darul Uloom was canceled and he left two and a half hours earlier than scheduled.

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Like Delhi, controversy emerged in Darul Uloom here too, when during the visit of Afghanistan Foreign Minister women journalists who arrived here to cover the event were placed under restrictions.

Muttaqi was supposed to stay until 5 p.m., but left at 2:30 p.m.

The media in-charge of Darul Uloom University, asked women media persons to sit behind a curtain.

Earlier, Muttaqi was welcomed with a shower of flowers in Deoband. Students then rushed to meet him. The crowd was so large that security cordons were breached and police had to push the students away.

While talking to students Muttaqi said, “I am grateful to the Ulama of Deoband and the people of the region for this warm welcome. The future of India-Afghanistan relations looks very bright.”

He said, “The journey so far has been very good. Not just the people of Darul Uloom, but people from all over the region have come here. I am grateful for the warm welcome they extended to me.”

Muttaki arrived in Deoband by road from Delhi at 12 noon on Saturday.
Following the cancellation of Muttaqi’s speech, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani said, “The Foreign Minister has spoken with the students attending Darul Uloom, but the ministry officials accompanying him have requested an early return.”

“We also told him, brother, if you want to go early then go,” the Maulana said.

Muttaqi will now travel to Agra tomorrow. He arrived in Delhi from Kabul on October 9 on a seven-day visit to India.