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 Afghanistan |  Saudi Arabia |
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| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of Afghanistan, Riyadh | Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Kabul |
Saudi Arabia has historically exerted strong influence on Afghanistan and was one of the major providers of funds to theAfghan mujahideen fighting against theSoviets and their allies theDRA.Saudi Arabia was also the second of only three countries to recognize thefirst Taliban government, extending official recognition on 26 May 1997, one day afterPakistan and shortly before theUnited Arab Emirates.[1] After the2001 invasion of Afghanistan,Saudi Arabia was one of the major helpers in the Afghan reconstruction. For example, the mainhighway project was funded mainly by theUnited States andSaudi Arabia. TheGrand Mosque of Kabul in Afghanistan was also financed by Saudi Arabia.
The Saudis started perceiving a growing Iranian encroachment in Afghanistanc. 2013. They saw the IranianRevolutionary Guards supporting Shias, but also one of several Afghan branches of theMuslim Brotherhood,Jamaat-e-Islami, and trying to coopt Taliban leaders and groups, and decided to become more active to counter that.[2]
In August 2021, Saudi Arabia evacuated all of its diplomats from its embassy in Kabul after the Talibancaptured the country in a swift sweep. Like the rest of the world, Saudi Arabia does not recognize the re-establishedIslamic Emirate of Afghanistan; however, the Saudi embassy Kabul re-opened on 30 November 2021 to provide consular services to Afghan citizens.[3] On February 5, 2023, the Saudi Arabian embassy in Kabul was evacuated following reports that explosive-laden vehicles had managed to infiltrate Kabul's Green Zone, where the embassy is located.[4] It was also revealed that the terrorist groupISIL had intended to attack the Saudi Arabian embassy during this incident.[5]
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