St. Thomas (the Apostle) supposedly evangelized India, so there is definitely a cult of the Virgin that has existed there since very early on. I don't know about Afghanistan, though.
Actually I know this guy whose father is from Afghanistan and he grew up as a Zorostrian. The entire family converted to Christianity when they came to the USA.
Thanks. I'll look into it.
well, St. Thomas pretty definitely came to India and the Christians there call themselves Marthomites.