Afghanistan’s foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited the Darul Uloom Deoband Islamic seminary in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district on Saturday during his first visit to India, stating that the future of relations between Afghanistan and India will be “very bright.”

Muttaqi also held meetings and discussions with senior scholars and administrators of Darul Uloom Deoband, one of the most influential Islamic seminaries in South Asia.

Hundreds of students and scholars at the religious center welcomed him with enthusiasm and religious slogans.

Muttaqi said: “So far, the trip has been very good. Not only the people of Darul Uloom Deoband, but the entire community in this region came out to welcome us. I am grateful for their warm hospitality. I thank the scholars of Deoband and the people of this region for such a warm reception. In my opinion, the future of Afghanistan–India relations will be very bright.”

As part of this trip, Muttaqi is scheduled to visit the Indian city of Agra on Sunday of this week, where he will tour the Taj Mahal.

He is the highest-ranking official of the Islamic Emirate to visit India for the first time in the past four years.

During his visit, Muttaqi also met with his Indian counterpart yesterday, where India reaffirmed its commitment to cooperating with and assisting the Afghan people in various areas.

This visit comes at a time when relations between Kabul and New Delhi have gained added significance amid ongoing regional tensions with Pakistan.

According to experts, the trip could also pave the way for deeper dialogue between New Delhi and Kabul on key issues such as the status of Afghan refugees, humanitarian aid, trade, and educational cooperation.

Meanwhile, India has once again sent food supplies to the victims of the recent earthquake in Afghanistan. The spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs posted on X, stating that the aid is part of India’s ongoing humanitarian assistance to the earthquake-affected population.

Pakistan respects the sovereignty of Afghanistan, and remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering dialogue and cooperation with Afghanistan to address the shared challenges of terrorism, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said during a press conference on Friday.

He emphasized that Pakistan continues to prioritize diplomacy despite “persistent threats emanating from terrorist hideouts and sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.”

Khan urged the Afghan authorities to prevent their territory from being used for attacks against Pakistan, describing the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as a common threat to peace and stability in the region.

Groups like TTP represent a common threat to the peace and stability of our region,” he said, adding that Islamabad remains committed to resolving challenges through “dialogue and constructive engagement.”

Khan said that both nations have a mutual interest in combating terrorism and restoring stability. “We believe that Afghanistan should be able to reclaim its sovereignty and security and terrorist groups like TTP need to be combated robustly,” he added.

On Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India, Khan said that Afghanistan’s engagement with other countries is a matter of bilateral relations and that Islamabad respects Kabul’s sovereign right to conduct its own foreign policy.

Pakistani officials have repeatedly claimed that TTP militants enjoy sanctuaries in Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate, however, denies.

Etihad Airways announced on Friday that it will begin direct flights to Kabul, becoming the latest international carrier to operate routes to Afghanistan’s capital.

The airline said the new service, launching in December 2025 with three weekly flights, responds to growing demand for travel between the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan. Etihad added that the route will help boost trade, travel, and community connections between the two nations.

“The UAE hosts one of the largest Afghan communities in the Gulf, with around 300,000 Afghans living and working in the country, according to the Afghan Business Council,” the airline said in a statement. “The new flights will further strengthen these economic and social ties while enhancing connectivity through Abu Dhabi.”

Other international airlines currently flying direct to Kabul include Turkish Airlines and FlyDubai.