Hekmat Hajiev, Special Assistant to Azerbaijan’s President, says Azerbaijan and Afghanistan share longstanding historical, cultural, and traditional ties, as both countries seek to expand cooperation in several sectors.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the World Urban Forum in Baku on Friday, Hajiev said Azerbaijan’s embassy in Kabul remains “fully operational” at ambassadorial level.

“There is historical, cultural and traditional relationship between our countries and between our peoples,” he said.

Hajiev also referred to the visit of Azerbaijan’s deputy prime minister to Kabul last year, saying the trip focused on reviewing opportunities for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

“We see a lot of prospects for cooperation between our countries and most importantly people-to-people contacts as well,” he added.

The Azerbaijani presidential aide further noted that many Afghan students are currently studying in Azerbaijan and described the education sector as an area with “great potential” for future cooperation.

Mirdif Al-Qashouti, Qatar’s ambassador to Afghanistan, has pledged comprehensive support for the restoration and preservation of Afghanistan’s historical manuscripts and archival documents during a visit to the National Archive in Kabul.

The visit took place on Thursday at the National Archive of the Ministry of Information and Culture, where Afghan officials highlighted the historical importance of the institution’s collections.

Obaidullah Hanif, head of the National Archive, said the institution holds a rich collection of historical documents, manuscripts, and cultural artifacts, many of which require urgent restoration and preservation work.

Hanif called for greater cooperation and assistance from relevant institutions to help protect Afghanistan’s historical heritage.

During the visit, the Qatari ambassador toured different sections of the archive and received detailed briefings from technical staff about the historical records and artifacts kept at the facility.

Officials from both Afghanistan and Qatar also emphasized the importance of continuing bilateral cultural cooperation.