After radical Islamists came to power in Afghanistan, the international community froze billions of dollars in assets abroad and halted all funding for the country.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan warned on Sunday that Afghanistan could potentially become the “biggest man-made crisis” if the world fails to act in time as representatives of Muslim-majority countries set up a humanitarian trust fund and set up a humanitarian trust fund. Agreed to launch. Food security program to help the people of the war-torn nation.
Addressing the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) here, Khan highlighted the crumbling hospitals, education sector and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and called on the world to take immediate action as the Taliban . The ruled nation was heading towards anarchy.
“If the world doesn’t act, it will be the biggest man-made crisis we are facing,” Khan said. Anarchy in Afghanistan means the end of a government that will strengthen ISIS, so that it can be carried out. Acts of global terrorism, Khan told the gathering, which included the Taliban regime’s foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaki, representatives from 57 Muslim countries and the US, China, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations. Khan urged the US to disassociate from the policy of Afghanistan’s 40 million people towards the Taliban.
He also said that the Taliban must also understand that the formation of an inclusive government, respect for human rights, especially women, and allowing the use of Afghan soil for terrorism in other countries is the path of international aid to Afghanistan. will be expansive.
Afghanistan’s economy is facing a major crisis after the Taliban seized power in Kabul in mid-August, amid the withdrawal of chaotic US and NATO troops from the war-torn country.
After radical Islamists came to power in Afghanistan, the international community froze billions of dollars in assets abroad and halted all funding for the country.
According to UN figures in early November, about 24 million people in Afghanistan, about 60 percent of the population, suffer from acute hunger. In this, about 8.7 million people are living in famine. The increasing number of malnourished children has filled the hospital wards. Khan also raised the issue of Kashmir in his speech.
Later, the OIC representative passed a unanimous resolution emphasizing that “the threat of terrorism remains a serious threat to Afghanistan, regional countries and the international community” and asserted that “the Afghan region should be protected from any terrorist attacks”. should not be used as a base or safe haven for groups”.
The resolution emphasized the importance of establishing an inclusive government framework for adopting moderate and strong domestic and foreign policies with a friendly attitude towards Afghanistan’s neighbours, aimed at achieving the shared goals of Afghanistan’s enduring peace, security, security and long-term prosperity. is to be realized. Area.
It emphasized the importance of meaningful participation of women in all spheres and upholding human rights including those of women, children and minorities. It also urged the international community to be alert to the possibility of provocations to derail efforts aimed at peace and stability in Afghanistan and the role of perverts inside and outside the country.
The resolution underscored the need for concerted efforts to rebuild the necessary capacity of Afghanistan’s relevant state institutions to address the challenges posed by terrorism, narcotics, trafficking, money laundering, organized crime and irregular migration.
Briefing reporters along with OIC Secretary-General Hisen Brahim Taha, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi later said that the conference agreed to set up a humanitarian trust fund and it also agreed to launch a food security programme. Participants also agreed to “unlock financial and banking channels”, he said.
To a question about the pledge, Qureshi said that some countries wanted to donate but they needed an account and some mechanism for the same. “That’s why we have decided that the Islamic Development Bank will open an account to facilitate the donation and then the pledge will be made,” he said.
He also mentioned that a positive statement was made by US Special Representative Tom West, who said he had a mandate to engage with the Taliban and also met with Taliban leaders in Afghanistan.
“The West also said that humanitarian aid will not be made conditional,” Qureshi said, adding that the West also indicated that the USD 1.2 billion unused funds available with international institutions could be used.
Qureshi also said that the meeting discussed how the assistance should be provided. It was also agreed that the OIC Secretariat should engage with the WHO to obtain COVID-19 vaccines and medicines for Afghans.
He said it was a vision as well as a call from the participants to the international community that sanctions on Afghanistan should not impede the provision of humanitarian aid and that economic resources should be made available without sanctions getting in the way of aid. to Afghanistan.
Asked about the recognition of the Taliban government, Qureshi said “there is no hunger for recognition. That phase will come (later).”
Qureshi also shared that in his conversation with the Afghan Foreign Minister, he urged him to create a conducive environment so that the world can recognize his government.
Speaking on behalf of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Martin Griffiths, head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), painted a very dangerous scenario of the Afghan problem.
“Afghan economy is in free fall, urgent steps are needed… about 23 million people are facing hunger,” he said, adding that the world should come forward to help the people of Afghanistan. He also called for genuine international engagement. Qureshi, officials in Kabul, said that Pakistan has decided to provide USD 30 million in aid to Afghanistan, apart from essential items.
He said that despite ties with India, Pakistan has allowed India to send wheat and life-saving medicines through Pakistan. India has contributed to the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people. This includes providing more than one million metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan over the past decade. For this meeting, Pakistan has made tight security arrangements. The capital, Islamabad, was cordoned off, surrounded by barbed wire barriers and shipping-container roadblocks set up where police and soldiers stood guard.
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