Keep a close watch on Deobandi madarasas, warns former Afghanistan President

Former Afghanistan President Amrullah Saleh (left)

Kabul (Afghanistan) – Former Afghanistan President Amrullah Saleh has extended Diwali greetings to Indians but, along with it, issued a warning to the Indian Government to stay alert about Deoband madarasas. Saleh specifically referred to the Darul Uloom Deoband madarasa in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, as a potential source of threat.

Extending greetings through a post on ‘X’, Amrullah Saleh wrote, “Heartiest Diwali greetings to all Indians and Hindus across the world. I wish you all good health. During this period, please keep a close watch on the Deoband madarasa.”

Happy Diwali to all Indians and Hindus across the globe! Wishing you well. Please be mindful of the Deoband madrasa in the meantime.

— Amrullah Saleh (@AmrullahSaleh2) October 20, 2025

His message is linked to the 11 October visit of Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India. During this visit, Muttaqi had visited the Darul Uloom Deoband madrasa in Uttar Pradesh. At that time, he said that the Taliban has an old connection with Deoband.

During his visit to Deoband, Muttaqi met Darul Uloom chief Maulana Abul Qasim Nomani, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani, and several other religious leaders.

Amrullah Saleh is a staunch opponent of the jihadi agenda of the Taliban and the Pakistani military. When the Taliban seized Kabul in August 2021, Saleh was the Vice-President in the Ashraf Ghani Government. Later, he joined hands with anti-Taliban leader Ahmad Massoud and worked with his resistance group.

Deoband’s connection with the Taliban

The Deobandi ideology holds a special place within the Taliban, as many Taliban leaders have studied at Pakistan’s Darul Uloom Haqqania madarasa. This madarasa was founded by Maulana Abdul Haq, who himself had studied at Deoband. His son, Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, is known as the “Father of the Taliban.”

Deoband is not merely a madarasa but is regarded as the birthplace of Taliban-style fundamentalism. Established in 1866 during British rule, Darul Uloom Deoband’s stated purpose was to protect Islamic teachings from external influences and preserve the original interpretation of the Quran and Hadith. From here, the Deobandi movement spread across India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, shaping radical ideologies that continue to influence extremist groups in South Asia.