Afghanistan has traditionally followed a policy of neutrality and non-alignment in its foreign relations. Diplomatic relations between Afghanistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were formally established in 1946. Since then, the two countries have enjoyed friendly and respectful relations based on shared Islamic values, mutual respect, and historical ties. Riyadh, as the capital and major diplomatic center of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has played an important role in facilitating these relations.
During the Afghan Jihad against the Soviet occupation in the 1980s, the government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia extended strong political, humanitarian, and financial support to the Afghan people. Saudi Arabia hosted Afghan refugees, supported relief efforts, and played a key role in mobilizing assistance for Afghanistan. Riyadh served as an important hub for humanitarian coordination and diplomatic engagement related to Afghanistan.
Following the establishment of a new government in Afghanistan, bilateral relations continued through diplomatic missions and consular services. The Consulate General of Afghanistan in Riyadh worked closely with Saudi authorities to serve Afghan citizens, facilitate Hajj and Umrah affairs, and strengthen people-to-people ties.
Today, Afghanistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continue to maintain relations centered on consular cooperation, religious connections, and humanitarian engagement. The Consulate General in Riyadh remains committed to supporting Afghan nationals, enhancing bilateral understanding, and upholding the long-standing relationship between the two brotherly nations.
During the period 2001–2005, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through its humanitarian organizations and charitable institutions, provided extensive assistance to Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons. A major refugee camp was established in the Chaman region of Pakistan, hosting approximately 10,000 Afghan refugees. The camp was equipped with essential facilities, including food supplies, healthcare services, and a fully equipped temporary hospital.
Saudi humanitarian organizations, in coordination with UNHCR, facilitated the distribution of essential relief items to Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
An air bridge was established to deliver humanitarian assistance through 41 relief flights covering Quetta (Pakistan), Mashhad (Iran), Kabul, and Mazar-e-Sharif. This air bridge served as a vital lifeline, delivering food, shelter materials, medical supplies, ambulances, vehicles, and humanitarian delegates to monitor and implement relief projects.
Additionally, approximately 2,000 tons of food items were shipped by sea to Pakistan for Afghan refugees and transported by land into Afghanistan. The estimated total cost of these assistance projects amounted to USD 11.9 million.
Under the humanitarian initiatives of the late King Fahd and King Abdullah, Saudi-funded reconstruction projects included the construction of a housing complex consisting of 200 houses, a mosque, two schools, and a health clinic. The estimated cost of this project was approximately USD 4.3 million.
Saudi charitable organizations also allocated funds for the construction of a maternity hospital to improve healthcare services for Afghan women and children. Additional reconstruction projects were placed on the agenda for future implementation.
On humanitarian grounds, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia sponsored the welfare and well-being of Afghan orphans. To date, more than 500 orphans were supported under various sponsorship programs. The estimated cost of these initiatives was approximately USD 21,000.
For the year 2005 and beyond, Saudi humanitarian agencies planned continued assistance through relief flights and on-ground support. Fundraising campaigns were organized within the Kingdom, particularly in Jeddah, to mobilize support from charitable individuals and institutions.
Saudi organizations committed to sustaining relief assistance through air bridges and direct aid distribution to vulnerable Afghan families via their offices in Kabul. The estimated cost of future projects was approximately USD 274,000.
For the year 2005 and beyond, Saudi humanitarian agencies planned continued assistance through relief flights and on-ground support. Fundraising campaigns were organized within the Kingdom, particularly in Jeddah, to mobilize support from charitable individuals and institutions.
Saudi organizations committed to sustaining relief assistance through air bridges and direct aid distribution to vulnerable Afghan families via their offices in Kabul. The estimated cost of future projects was approximately USD 274,000.
At the Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan’s Reconstruction, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pledged a financial package of USD 30 million to support Afghanistan’s rebuilding and development efforts.
During the 9th Conference of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), hosted in the Kingdom, Saudi Arabia announced a donation of USD 3 million to the Afghanistan Fund.
The Kingdom also donated relief commodities, including vehicles, office equipment, communication systems, and computers, to support Afghan institutions. The estimated value of these donations exceeded USD 19.5 million.
Overall humanitarian assistance provided by Saudi Arabia for various sectors—including health, education, relief, and social welfare—amounted to approximately USD 21.3 million.
Private humanitarian contributions also played a significant role. Notably, USD 350,000 was donated by a senior Saudi benefactor for the construction of a mosque within the Kabul University campus, reflecting the strong people-to-people ties between Afghanistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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