Islamabad, December 19, 2021 (PPI-OT):Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has proposed a six-point framework to support the Afghan people. In his welcome address during 17th extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad on Sunday, he said we should create a vehicle within the OIC to channel immediate and sustained humanitarian and financial support to the Afghan people including the pledges from the OIC and other donors.
He said we should agree to increase investment for the Afghan people bilaterally or through the OIC in areas such as education, health, technical and vocational skills to the Afghan youth. A group of experts comprising the OIC, the UN and international financial institutions be established to consider ways and means to facilitate Afghan access to legitimate banking system and ease liquidity challenge of Afghan people.
We should focus on enhancing food security of the Afghan people and the Islamic organization of food security must lead this effort. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said we should engage with the Afghan authorities to help meet the expectations of the international community regarding political and social inclusivity, respect for human rights especially of women and girls and combating terrorism.
Alluding to the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and threat of economic meltdown there, the Foreign Minister said this is a moment to extend a collective helping hand and not withhold support. He said that Pakistan concurred with the United Nations Secretary General that the humanitarian assistance be provided without conditions.
In his remarks, OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha said the OIC has always supported the Afghan people and the role of the OIC member countries in delivering humanitarian assistance is more necessary than ever before because of the growing challenges faced by the Afghan people. He called on the member countries to deliver humanitarian assistance through the OIC mission in Kabul.
The OIC Secretary General also called upon the international community to ensure Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for terrorism. The OIC Secretary General was appreciative of Pakistan for hosting this important meeting saying this reaffirms its total commitment to the issues faced by our wider Muslim community.
In his remarks, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stressed that solidarity with the Afghan people is our moral obligation and religious duty. He said the OIC should play a leading role in mobilizing international support for the Afghan people. In his remarks, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said Afghanistan’s economy is now in free fall and if we do not act decisively and with compassion, this fall will pull down the entire population with it.
Alluding to the dire situation in Afghanistan, Martin Griffiths said the need for liquidity and stabilization of the banking system is now urgent not only to save the lives of the Afghan people but also to enable humanitarian organizations to respond.
He said the UN stands firmly with the OIC in its efforts to contribute to the humanitarian endeavour. The Emergency Relief Coordinator said Emergency Relief Coordinator we will seek funding for our largest ever appeal of four point five billion dollars next year to help the most vulnerable in Afghanistan.
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