Saudi Arabia restores diplomatic relations with Afghanistan

Saudi Arabia restores diplomatic relations with Afghanistan

The Saudi government has decided to restore its diplomatic mission in Kabul, taking into account the stabilization of the situation in Afghanistan. The Saudi Foreign Ministry issued an official statement on December 22, announcing the restoration of diplomatic relations with Afghanistan.

Kabul's reaction

The Afghan government welcomed the Saudi decision. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zia Ahmed described the decision as an important step towards strengthening relations.

"We have great hope for the development of relations between Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. This will create an opportunity to effectively address the problems of Afghans living in Saudi Arabia," he said.

Saudi Arabia withdrew its diplomats from Kabul in August 2021 due to the change of power and the instability of the situation in Afghanistan. However, in November of that year, the Saudi consulate resumed partial work and was active in delivering humanitarian aid. Now, seeing the stability of the situation, Riyadh has decided to restore full diplomatic relations with Kabul.

This decision is expected to open new opportunities for improving relations between Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, including economic cooperation, humanitarian assistance, and protecting the rights of Saudi citizens and expatriates living in Afghanistan.