Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud arrived in India on Saturday on a three-day visit during which he is expected to discuss the situation in Afghanistan as well ways to boost bilateral ties.

Saudi foreign minister begins 3-day India visit, to discuss Afghanistan & bilateral issues

<p>Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud has expressed hope of ''stability'' in Afghanistan after the Taliban announced the formation of a new government.</p>

<p>Without commenting on the Taliban's approach to governance, he said that Saudi Arabia will support ''the choices that the Afghan people make regarding the future of their country, away from external interference.''</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Minister of Foreign Affairs H.H Prince <a href="https://twitter.com/FaisalbinFarhan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FaisalbinFarhan</a>, participated in the virtual ministerial meeting on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a>. <a href="https://t.co/2UqHVC4pGm">pic.twitter.com/2UqHVC4pGm</a></p>
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) <a href="https://twitter.com/KSAmofaEN/status/1435855998086955008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>He added that the advent of a caretaker government will help Afghanistan is a “step in the right direction towards achieving security and stability, rejecting violence and extremism, building a bright future in line with these aspirations.”</p>

<p>Reaffirming its support to Afghanistan, the kingdom has pledged to provide aid and assistance during its ''difficult time.''</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-taliban-govt-issues-decree-over-future-protests-411999/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Saudi Arabia had also expressed condolences towards the Afghan people who died during the fatal twin blast at Kabul airport.</p>

<p>The country was among the three nations that accepted the legitimacy of the Taliban regime from 1996 to 2001 in Afghanistan. The other two countries were Pakistan and United Arab Emirates (UAE).</p>

<p>The Western countries have expressed their disapproval against the election of several wanted and hardlines in the Taliban cabinet.</p>

<p>The all-male interim government has raised doubts that it will receive recognition by the West.</p>


Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud has expressed hope of ''stability'' in Afghanistan after the Taliban announced the formation of a new government.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud has expressed hope of ''stability'' in Afghanistan after the Taliban announced the formation of a new government. Without commenting on the Taliban's approach to governance, he said that Saudi Arabia will support ''the choices that the Afghan people make regarding the future of their country, away from external interference.'' Minister of Foreign Affairs H.H Prince @FaisalbinFarhan, participated in the virtual ministerial meeting on #Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/2UqHVC4pGm — Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) September 9, 2021 × He added that the advent of a caretaker government will help Afghanistan is a “step in the right direction towards achieving security and stability, rejecting violence and extremism, building a bright future in line with these aspirations.” Reaffirming its support to Afghanistan, the kingdom has pledged to provide aid and assistance during its ''difficult time.'' Saudi Arabia had also expressed condolences towards the Afghan people who died during the fatal twin blast at Kabul airport. The country was among the three nations that accepted the legitimacy of the Taliban regime from 1996 to 2001 in Afghanistan. The other two countries were Pakistan and United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Western countries have expressed their disapproval against the election of several wanted and hardlines in the Taliban cabinet. The all-male interim government has raised doubts that it will receive recognition by the West.

Saudi Arabia shows support for Taliban's new government in Afghanistan

<p>Pakistan Foreign Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-foreign-minister-shah-mahmood-qureshi-calls-for-maximum-restraint-amid-west-asia-tensions-272497">Shah Mehmood Qureshi</a> will embark on a visit to Iran and Saudi Arabia on January 13 to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East region.</p>

<p>"He (Qureshi) will visit Riyadh on January 13 to hold talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-appeals-for-calm-after-killing-of-iranian-general-qasem-soleimani-272563">Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud</a> and consult on the issues of regional peace and stability," a Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson was quoted by The Express Tribune, as saying on Saturday.</p>

<p>The spokesperson said that Qureshi will meet his Iranian counterpart <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-airplane-brought-down-due-to-human-error-iran-273506">Javad Zarif</a> in Tehran and exchange views on the evolving situation in the Middle East region.</p>

<p>Qureshi has already spoken to his counterparts from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, will undertake the visits on the direction of Pakistan Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-pm-imran-khan-slammed-by-syed-akbaruddin-for-sharing-a-seven-years-old-fake-video-272024">Imran Khan</a>.</p>

<p>This visit comes in the backdrop of escalating US-Iran tensions after Soleimani, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force, was killed in a drone strike ordered by President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/soleimani-was-probably-planning-to-attack-four-us-embassies-donald-trump-273535">Donald Trump</a> at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq.</p>

<p>Iran retailated by firing dozens of missiles at two US-led coalition bases in Iraq. However, no casualties were reported.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/qasem-soleimani-and-irans-plan-to-dominate-iraq-273471">Soleimani</a>'s death marked a dramatic escalation in tension between the US and Iran, which has often been at a fever pitch since US President Donald Trump, in 2018, chose to unilaterally withdraw Washington from the 2015 nuclear pact the world powers had struck with Tehran.</p>


Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will embark on a visit to Iran and Saudi Arabia on January 13 to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East region.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will embark on a visit to Iran and Saudi Arabia on January 13 to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East region. "He (Qureshi) will visit Riyadh on January 13 to hold talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and consult on the issues of regional peace and stability," a Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson was quoted by The Express Tribune, as saying on Saturday. The spokesperson said that Qureshi will meet his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif in Tehran and exchange views on the evolving situation in the Middle East region. Qureshi has already spoken to his counterparts from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, will undertake the visits on the direction of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. This visit comes in the backdrop of escalating US-Iran tensions after Soleimani, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force, was killed in a drone strike ordered by President Donald Trump at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq. Iran retailated by firing dozens of missiles at two US-led coalition bases in Iraq. However, no casualties were reported. Soleimani's death marked a dramatic escalation in tension between the US and Iran, which has often been at a fever pitch since US President Donald Trump, in 2018, chose to unilaterally withdraw Washington from the 2015 nuclear pact the world powers had struck with Tehran.

Pakistan foreign minister to visit Iran, Saudi Arabia to discuss developments in Middle East

<p>Saudi Arabia's foreign minister,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-saudi-foreign-minister-faisal-bin-farhan-al-saud-to-visit-today-270275">Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud</a>&nbsp;said on Monday the kingdom does not want to see a further escalation of tensions in the region at a "very dangerous moment", following Friday's killing by a US&nbsp;drone strike of Iran's most prominent military commander and Quds force head, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-updates-on-iran-general-qassem-soleimanis-death-272457">Qasem Soleimani</a>.</p>

<p>"We are very keen that the situation in the region doesn't escalate any further. It's certainly a very dangerous moment and we have to be conscious of the risks and dangers not just to the region but to wider global security," Prince Faisal bin Farhan told a news briefing in Riyadh.</p>

<p>"We hope that all actors take all the steps necessary to prevent any further escalation and any provocation," he said.</p>


Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud said on Monday the kingdom does not want to see a further escalation of tensions in the region at a "very dangerous moment", following Friday's killing by a US drone strike of Iran's most prominent military commander and Quds force head, Qasem Soleimani.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud said on Monday the kingdom does not want to see a further escalation of tensions in the region at a "very dangerous moment", following Friday's killing by a US drone strike of Iran's most prominent military commander and Quds force head, Qasem Soleimani. "We are very keen that the situation in the region doesn't escalate any further. It's certainly a very dangerous moment and we have to be conscious of the risks and dangers not just to the region but to wider global security," Prince Faisal bin Farhan told a news briefing in Riyadh. "We hope that all actors take all the steps necessary to prevent any further escalation and any provocation," he said.

Saudi Arabia appeals for 'calm' after killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani