Saudi backs Afghan government peace efforts: Envoy

JEDDAH (Pajhwok): The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia supports Afghan government efforts for peace and stability, says Afghan envoy to Saudi Arabia Syed Jalal Karim on Tuesday.

He said relation between Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan has improved recently, adding that Riyadh wanted inclusive dialogue in Afghanistan for durable peace and stability. Karim was talking with a groupt of Afghan media in Jeddah, after they performed Hajj.

Afghan envoy said cordial relation with regional countries, including KSA was Afghanistan’s top priority. He said the issues of at least 200,000 Afghans were being addressed. The process of computerise passport distribution to Saudi based Afghans had been launched, the envoy added. 

ک

Jalal said as many as 1,100 forms for had been distributed to Afghans by the Afghan embassy in Riyadh. He added Saudi government has been told Afghans who came to the Kingdom on Pakistani passports would distribute with Afghani passport.

He said the Hajj rituals were performed in peaceful environment and no issues emerged during Hajj.

He thanked the Saudi government for proper arrangement and successful conduct of Hajj despite 20 percent increase in the number of pilgrims this year compared to the previous year. Over two million pilgrims from around the world, including 30,000 from Afghanistan performed Hajj.

nh