The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Afghanistan, Faisal Bin Talaq Al-Baqmi, returned to Kabul and met with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Thursday, July 11.
In a statement the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that both sides discussed bilateral relations, emphasizing the importance of expanding ties.
“The meeting focused on in-depth discussions regarding bilateral relations between Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia and the progress made in diverse areas in Afghanistan,” the ministry said. “Muttaqi expressed hope that the bilateral relations will be further enhanced during the tenure of Mr. Faisal Al-Baqmi,” it added.
According to the Taliban’s statement, the Saudi Ambassador highlighted the longstanding and deep-rooted relations between the two countries, expressing his country’s intention to expedite and enhance ties with Afghanistan.
“Acknowledging the efforts of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in particular in strengthening security and countering narcotics, Mr. Al-Baqmi affirmed his commitment to continuing to dispatch humanitarian aid to Afghans and work in other areas as well,” reads the Taliban statement.
Following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, Saudi Arabia, like many other countries in the region, maintained its embassy open in Kabul. However, the country closed its embassy in February 2023 due to security threats.
According to The Times, the regional branch of Islamic State, IS-KP, had plans to attack the Saudi embassy in Kabul with a car bomb. Reuters also reported that Saudi diplomats departed and relocated to Pakistan “due to warnings of heightened risks of attacks in the Afghan capital Kabul.”
The Taliban, however, said at that time that Riyadh had recalled its diplomats for training purposes and they would return.
