Afghan and Saudi Officials Discuss Hajj Quotas and Bilateral Ties in Kabul

Afghan and Saudi officials convened in Kabul to discuss the expansion of bilateral relations and the allocation of Hajj and Umrah visas for Afghan citizens. The meeting brought together Afghan Deputy Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs Hafiz Mawlawi Mohammad Hamid Haseeb and Saudi Ambassador to Afghanistan Faisal bin Talaq Al-Baqimi.

The discussions centered on increasing the number of pilgrimage visas available to Afghans and strengthening institutional cooperation between religious authorities in both countries. Both officials highlighted the longstanding religious, cultural, and historical connections shared by Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.

During the talks, Deputy Minister Haseeb and Ambassador Al-Baqimi reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing coordination within the pilgrimage sector. They emphasized that facilitating religious travel remains a priority and expressed mutual interest in developing frameworks that would allow more Afghan citizens to perform Hajj and Umrah in the coming seasons.

The meeting also addressed broader diplomatic engagement, with both sides noting the importance of sustained dialogue to support religious and cultural exchanges. Officials indicated that future initiatives would focus on streamlining administrative processes and improving logistical arrangements for Afghan pilgrims traveling to the Kingdom.

No specific numerical targets or implementation timelines were disclosed following the discussions. The ministry stated that technical working groups will continue to coordinate on the operational details of the expanded visa arrangements.