UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received today His Excellency Sirajuddin Haqqani, Afghanistan’s Minister of Interior.
During the meeting, held at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi, the two sides discussed recent developments in Afghanistan and explored ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation to serve the mutual interests of both nations, particularly in development-related areas.
UAE to support reconstruction and stability
They also reviewed efforts to support Afghanistan’s reconstruction and stability, aiming to foster development and prosperity for the Afghan people. For his part, the Afghan Interior Minister praised cooperation between the UAE and Afghanistan and commended the UAE’s humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.
The UAE assists Afghanistan in various sectors including health, infrastructure, construction of roads, schools, Masjids, hospitals and universities. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the total UAE aid to Afghanistan from 2001 to 2012 reached $1.5 billion. From 2012 to 2017, aid exceeded $433 million
According to the OEC, the UAE exported goods worth $1.22 billion to Afghanistan while Afghanistan exported $32.5 million to the UAE.
Read: New WEF report outlines path to inclusive economic growth
UAE, Afghanistan to bolster cooperation
Earlier this month, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, and affirmed the UAE’s commitment to supporting the friendly Afghan people in achieving their aspirations for stability, development and prosperity, as well as supporting the paths of development and progress in Afghanistan.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance them to achieve the mutual interests of both countries, promoting prosperity and welfare for their people.
They also reviewed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in several sectors, particularly in economic and developmental fields, while supporting reconstruction and development efforts in Afghanistan, to serve its developmental plans and objectives within the framework of the strong and historical relations that unite the two friendly countries and peoples.
