Kabul and Riyadh Discuss Increasing Afghan Hajj Visas

The professional head of the Ministry of Guidance, Hajj, and Endowments, currently under Taliban administration, led an official delegation to meet with the Saudi Arabian ambassador in Kabul to discuss expanding bilateral relations, particularly the increase of Hajj and Umrah visas.

In the meeting, Mawlawi Mohammad Hamid Hasib and Dr. Faisal Talq Al-Buqami exchanged views on further developing relations between the two countries and strengthening cooperation across various sectors. According to official sources, the main focus of this meeting was to facilitate the process of sending Afghan pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and to expand joint cooperation.

Hajj and Umrah are among the most significant religious practices for Afghan citizens, with thousands traveling to Saudi Arabia every year to fulfill this religious obligation. In recent years, the issue of visa quotas and consular facilitation has consistently been a key demand of pilgrims and related service companies.

So far, no official details have been announced regarding the practical outcomes of this meeting or any potential timeline for increasing the visa quota.