Saudi Arabia resumes services at Afghanistan embassy

Saudi Arabia's embassy in Kabul announced that it had resumed services from Sunday, more than three years after the kingdom withdrew its diplomats following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

“Based on the desire of the government of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to provide all services to the brotherly Afghan people, it has been decided to resume the activities of the mission of the kingdom in Kabul starting on December 22,” the embassy posted on X.

There was no immediate comment from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the resumption of services at the embassy, and the level of representation remains unclear.

Riyadh withdrew its diplomats from Kabul because of the “unstable situation” after the Taliban seized the Afghan capital and overthrew the internationally recognised government on August 15, 2021, following the withdrawal of US troops from the country.

In November 2021, Saudi Arabia said it was resuming consular services in Afghanistan. It also provides humanitarian aid in the country through its KSRelief organisation.

The Taliban government remains unrecognised by any country, although some have restored diplomatic ties. China last year became the first country to appoint an ambassador to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Beijing and the United Arab Emirates also accepted Taliban-appointed envoys this year.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Pakistan were the only three countries that recognised the first Taliban government which came to power in 1996 and was overthrown by the US invasion of 2001.