Saudi Arabia has historically exerted a strong influence on Afghanistan and was one of the major providers of funds to the Afghan mujahideen who were fighting against the Soviets and their allies the DRA. Saudi Arabia was also the second of only three countries to recognize the first Taliban government, extending official recognition on 26 May 1997, one day after Pakistan and shortly before the United Arab Emirates. After the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia was one of the major helpers in the Afghan reconstruction. For example, the main highway project was funded mainly by the United States and Saudi Arabia. The Grand Mosque of Kabul in Afghanistan was also financed by Saudi Arabia.
The Saudis started perceiving a growing Iranian encroachment in Afghanistan c. 2013. They saw the Iranian Revolutionary Guards supporting Shias, but also one of several Afghan branches of the Muslim Brotherhood, Jamaat-e-Islami, and trying to coopt Taliban leaders and groups, and decided to become more active to counter that.
In August 2021, Saudi Arabia evacuated all of its diplomats from its embassy in Kabul after the Taliban overtook...
John Breen
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