In December 2024, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the resumption of its diplomatic mission in Kabul. The development came about three years after Saudi Arabia closed its embassy in Kabul after the Afghan Taliban took over in 2021. This demonstrates a change in Saudi Arabia’s policy and willingness to engage with the Afghan Taliban. However, strengthening the bilateral relations between both countries depends on whether or not the Taliban regime can find relevance in Saudi Arabia’s modernisation agenda. This factor is set to influence the future trajectory of Saudi-Afghan relations.

Historically, Saudi Arabia was a close ally of Afghanistan. During the Soviet-Afghan war, the country provided necessary resources and funds to the mujahideen against the Soviets. A civil war soon followed the Soviet’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and the capture of Kabul by the Afghan Taliban in 1996. Saudi Arabia was one of three countries that recognised the new government in Afghanistan, with the other two being the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and neighbouring Pakistan.

However, a setback in relations emerged in 1998 when Saudi Arabia asked the Afghan Taliban to extradite Osama Bin Laden, leader of Al-Qaeda. Taliban refused this demand, which significantly deteriorated relations, and Saudi Arabia halted funding for the group. After Al-Qaeda’s 9/11 attacks, both Saudi Arabia and the UAE cut all ties with the Afghan Taliban. Saudi Arabia also reported two weeks after the terror attack that the Taliban government had not responded to any warnings to stop harbouring radical elements. It was important for the Kingdom to appear distant to both the Afghan Taliban and Bin Laden to avoid any responsibility relating to the 9/11 attacks.

In 2008, Saudi Arabia brokered........

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