Saudi Arabia restores full diplomatic operations in Afghanistan

Dubai: Saudi Arabia has announced the full resumption of its diplomatic mission in Kabul, three years after withdrawing its staff during the Taliban’s return to power.

The Saudi Embassy in Kabul confirmed on Sunday the move in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying, “In line with Saudi Arabia’s commitment to providing essential services to the Afghan people, the Saudi diplomatic mission in Kabul will resume its work starting December 22, 2024.”

Saudi Arabia had pulled its diplomats from Kabul on August 15, 2021, citing “unstable conditions” as the Taliban seized control following the US military withdrawal. In November 2021, the kingdom restored limited operations by offering consular services but stopped short of reopening its full diplomatic mission.

The move to resume operations comes as most countries maintain limited engagement with the Taliban government, which remains unrecognised internationally but holds de facto power in Afghanistan.