KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held a meeting with Faisal Talq al-Buqami, the Saudi Ambassador to Kabul, to discuss the future of bilateral relations between Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.
The meeting, which took place earlier today, centered on expanding cooperation across multiple sectors, particularly in diplomatic and consular services.
Hafiz Zia Ahmad, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that both sides explored avenues for enhancing bilateral ties, including the provision of consular services for Afghan citizens residing in Saudi Arabia and expanding opportunities for collaboration.
Muttaqi described the relationship between the two countries as both “valuable” and “historic,” noting the longstanding ties between Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, which have endured through political shifts in the region.
He called for increasing exchanges of official delegations between Kabul and Riyadh, boosting Afghanistan’s quota for Umrah pilgrimages, and improving consular assistance to Afghan citizens in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Ambassador echoed these sentiments and expressed his country’s willingness to deepen cooperation in various sectors. He added that the resumption of the Saudi embassy’s activities in Kabul is part of efforts to maximize diplomatic engagement and use all available resources to assist Afghanistan.
This meeting comes shortly after Saudi Arabia officially reopened its embassy in Kabul, nearly three two years of closure. The embassy had been closed since February 2023 due to “security concerns,” as diplomats were evacuated to Pakistan amid fears of potential terrorist attacks.
