Pakistan hosts the OIC summit on Afghanistan - Talk shop or concrete results expected?

[MenInG]

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday expressed confidence that countries participating in the 17th extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers, due to be held tomorrow, will be able to reach consensus on measures to improve the situation in Afghanistan.

Talking to the media ahead of a meeting of senior officials of participant countries in Islamabad, he said he was "very happy" that Pakistan was now receiving support for the stance it had held for long — that a humanitarian crisis could arise in Afghanistan and the country's subsequent economic collapse would affect the entire region.

"Prime Minister Imran Khan has been constantly trying to bring the world's attention [to Afghanistan] and I am confident that Pakistan, along with foreign ministers of other Muslim countries, will move a step forward in building that consensus."

He noted that the world "seemed to be reaching consensus" on the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan where people were facing malnutrition and economic difficulties, adding that the war-torn country's economy was reeling from the effects of a non-functioning banking system.


"I had mentioned yesterday that around 11 Nato commanders who had served in Afghanistan were pointing towards this (crisis). Those ambassadors, who have served in Kabul and are aware of the ground realities, are making the world aware [of the situation] and saying it is their opinion that Biden administration should review its policy to protect humanity and millions of Afghans in whom the US and the West have invested so much, for their capacity building, training and to shore up their economy."

He was referring to a joint message issued by 12 former US generals and ambassadors earlier this week in which they urged the Biden administration to help rebuild a banking system in Afghanistan to prevent a total collapse of the Afghan state.

The foreign minister, in his press conference today, said the Afghan people were facing a new test and the world should not exhibit ignorance. A lot of voices were joining Pakistan, including from the European Union, to call for improving the situation in Afghanistan, he added.

Qureshi held up a copy of a letter that he said had been written by 37 American congressmen and addressed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in which they said "it is our responsibility, our moral obligation to avert a humanitarian crisis" in Afghanistan.

"I believe this new thought is the purpose of this extraordinary session of foreign ministers. It was our wish to bring the world's attention to Afghanistan and I can see the progress."

Qureshi said he was waiting for his guests — the visiting dignitaries — with "great anticipation", sharing that around 437 delegates had registered themselves for the summit. A meeting would be held today to discuss the agenda and working plan for the Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting tomorrow, he said, adding: "I am confident that we will reach consensus this time and tomorrow's session will be very important and historic.

"We are standing at a point in history where if we take the right step, there can be peace in the region [and] stability and prosperity in Afghanistan. And God forbid, we do not take timely steps and correct decisions, Afghanistan could face another crisis, and all of its neighbours will be affected. And not only them but Europe can also be affected because of the influx of economic migrants."

The foreign minister said that Pakistan also wished for Afghan refugees in the country to be repatriated honourably but that could only happen when there was stability and opportunities for livelihood.

In response to a question, Qureshi said that meetings would be held on the sidelines of the OIC summit and delegations would also meet prime minister Imran Khan. There are 13 or 14 meetings scheduled for Saturday (today), he disclosed.

Arrival of foreign dignitaries

Meanwhile, foreign dignitaries continued to arrive in Pakistan ahead of the OIC summit. Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in Islamabad on Saturday and was welcomed by federal minister Ali Mohammad Khan and Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan, Mansoor Ahmed Khan.

Foreign Minister of Bosnia Dr Bisera Turkovic, Foreign Minister of Malaysia Saifuddin Abdullah and Foreign Minister of Indonesia Retno Marsudi also arrived in the capital earlier in the day. They were welcomed by Defence Production Minister Zubaida Jalal, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.

In addition, Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Nuryshev Shakhrat and Special Representative of Germany for Afghanistan Ambassador Jasper Wieck also reached the country.

The moot was proposed by Saudi Arabia last month, following which Pakistan had welcomed the move and offered to host the session.

A day earlier, OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha, who arrived in Pakistan on Friday, said it was high time to think how Muslim countries could help their Afghan brethren at this critical juncture.

He later met with FM Qureshi at the Foreign Office.

President of the Islamic Development Bank Dr Mohammad Sulaiman Al-Jasser, on reaching Islamabad, said participation of OIC ministers in the conference was an expression of their resolve for peace in Afghanistan and Afghan people would soon get the fruits of peace.

Besides OIC members and observers, the Foreign Office said, the UN system, international financial institutions, international and regional organisations and non-OIC members, including P-5 countries, European Union and countries like Japan, and Germany have also been invited.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I welcome delegations from OIC mbr states, observers, friends, partners & int orgs to Pakistan. The extraordinary session of OIC CFMs is an expression of solidarity with the Afghan ppl & to focus our collective energies on addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1472220335512559627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[DeadlyVenom]

The difference between regional powers and super powers is in the art of "nation building".

This is a good time for the Arab regional powers to flex their muscles and see if they can copy the Americans and Russians and move into this field.

To be honest I doubt it. Ultimately the salvation for the Afghan people will come from Europe.

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Forty-one years ago, when foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) met in Islamabad for an extraordinary session on Afghanistan, the agenda was in contrast to the one scheduled to be held in the federal capital on Sunday.

The extraordinary meeting held from January 27 to 29 in 1980 was convened against the backdrop of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. The final declaration approved the suspension of Afghanistan’s OIC membership, in addition to cutting its financial and humanitarian aid, because the 57-member bloc wanted to penalise the Soviet-backed government in Kabul.

The declaration decided to withhold recognition of the “illegal regime” until the complete withdrawal of Soviet troops from the country. It also called upon all member states to stop aid and all forms of assistance given to the regime.

Now, 41 years later, the foreign ministers of OIC member-states are set to meet for another extraordinary session, but this time they are seeking humanitarian aid and economic assistance for Afghanistan.

Pakistan, the host of the conference, is seeking the support of the international community to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and economic collapse of Afghanistan.

Ahead of the meeting, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi appeared to be confident of an international consensus on the matter.

As senior officials of the OIC finalised the agenda for the session, Qureshi claimed that world was now coming to the same point that Pakistan had maintained for a long time. He warned that a humanitarian crisis and economic collapse of the country would affect the entire world, stressing that Europe too would witness an influx of refugees.

A number of delegates from the OIC and other countries arrived in Pakistan on Saturday. Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Muttaqi held talks with his Pakistani counterpart.

Pakistan feels that the Afghan Taliban have the rare opportunity to put forth their perspective before the largest international gathering.

The international community is concerned over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, but is reluctant to work with the Taliban because many western countries believe that the group is yet to fulfill its responsibilities. They are particularly concerned over the rights of women, rights of girls to education, inclusive governance and alleged ties with terrorist outfits.

On the condition of anonymity, a Pakistani official told The Express Tribune that the participants of the meeting will have a chance to expresses or share their concerns before the top Taliban diplomat.

Meanwhile, United States special envoy also arrived in Islamabad on Saturday and termed the OIC meeting as a “timely initiative”. However, observers believe that the US is unlikely to make any huge commitments to the Afghan cause as the issue no longer remains a priority for President Jo Biden administration.

The day-long conference will be held at the Parliament House. It is rare for such events to be held in the main halls of the National Assembly, which is particularly reserved for elected members of the lower house.

Foreign Minister Qureshi will open the meeting while his Saudi counterpart and the secretary general of the OIC are also scheduled to speak during the inaugural session.

Prime Minister Imran Khan will deliver the keynote address. His speech, according to official sources, will focus on drawing the international community’s attention towards the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. He will also seek the international community’s help and will press the western countries to avoid abandoning Afghanistan. He will also call for unfreezing of Afghanistan’s foreign assets as well as the restoration of financial and banking channels.

The OIC conference is taking place at a time when the United Nations says nearly 23 million Afghans are facing acute food shortage while 3.2 million children at risk of malnutrition. Similarly, the United Nations Development Programme has warned that 97 percent of Afghans could slip below the poverty line by 2022 if urgent steps are not taken to mitigate their problems.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2334631/two-extraordinary-oic-sessions-and-two-contrasting-goals

 

[MenInG]

An extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers to discuss the situation in neighbouring Afghanistan is currently underway at the Parliament House in Islamabad.

Envoys from 57 Islamic nations as well as observer delegations are participating in today's session. According to Radio Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan will deliver the key note address at the inaugural session.

Following the recitation of Holy Quran, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi formally declared the extraordinary session "open". He was the first to address the summit.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud and OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha will also address the inaugural session.

"The extraordinary session is expected to pass a joint resolution. FM Qureshi and the OIC Secretary general will also address a news conference at the end of the moot," the Radio Pakistan report said.

On Sunday, the capital was on lockdown, ring-fenced with barbed wire barriers and shipping-container roadblocks where police and soldiers stood guard.

The foreign ministers of about 20 countries will attend the meeting, while 10 other countries are being represented by their deputy ministers. The rest have sent senior officials for the session.

Moreover, officials of the UN, global financial institutions, international and regional organisations and important non-OIC countries like Japan and Germany have also been invited.

No nations have yet formally recognised the Taliban government and diplomats face the delicate task of channelling aid to the stricken Afghan economy without also propping up the hardline group.

FM Qureshi said the meeting would speak “for the people of Afghanistan” rather than “a particular group”.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were the only three countries to recognise the previous Taliban government of 1996 to 2001.

Qureshi said there was a difference between “recognition and engagement” with the new order in Kabul.

“Let us nudge them through persuasion, through incentives, to move in the right direction,” he told reporters ahead of the OIC meeting.

“A policy of coercion and intimidation did not work. If it had worked, we wouldn't have been in this situation.“

OIC moot to focus spotlight on Afghan issue: PM Imran
On Sunday, Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed the hope that the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the 57-member Muslim bloc would focus spotlight on humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

“I welcome delegations from OIC member states, observers, friends, partners and international organisations to Pakistan. The extraordinary session of OIC CFMs is an expression of solidarity with the Afghan people and to focus our collective energies on addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan,” the premier said on Twitter.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday proposed a six-point strategy to address Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, food security and economic revival besides its institutional capacity building to counter the threat of terrorism.

This was proposed by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in his opening address at the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) being held at the Parliament House, Islamabad.

Qureshi, who is also the chair of the session, also proposed creating a mechanism within the OIC countries for sustainable humanitarian and financial support to the Afghanistan government.

The foreign minister also called for increased investments in the education and vocational sectors of Afghanistan, either bilaterally or through the OIC platform.

He also proposed the establishment of an expert group of the OIC and UN officials to revive the banking sector in Afghanistan that collapsed after the Taliban took over Kabul.

Qureshi also called for enhanced engagement with Afghanistan for political and social inclusivity besides ensuring respect for fundamental rights, particularly women’s rights.

The FM commended Saudi Arabia for convening the session as OIC chair and trusting Pakistan to host the extraordinary moot. Besides other delegates, he also welcomed the Secretary-General OIC for rapid mobilisation and arrangements for the session on short notice.

According to the foreign minister, said the gathering of OIC leaders at a short notice also reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

Calling it a matter of survival, the foreign minister said over half of the Afghan population faced food shortage, which made the population of two-thirds UN member states.

He said Pakistan had hosted an OIC session on Afghanistan in 1980 and after 41 years, Pakistan is obliged to host another session on the humanitarian crisis in the same country as the sufferings of the Afghan people haven’t ended.

Qureshi referred to the World Food Program, which warned that Afghanistan could face the largest humanitarian crisis in the world and the United Nations also warned of a similar situation.

He said it was a moment to stand up and that Afghan people must be supported without any condition.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/233465...ses-six-point-plan-to-solve-afghanistans-woes

 

[MenInG]

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday issued a clear warning to the global community, stating that Afghanistan could potentially become the biggest "man-made crisis in the world" if it did not act now.

The premier expressed the views while delivering the keynote address at the 17th extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers to discuss the situation in neighbouring Afghanistan at the Parliament House in Islamabad.

Envoys from 57 Islamic nations as well as observer delegations are participating in today's session. The premier, who was the last to speak before the televised portion of the event concluded, began his speech by welcoming the participants to Pakistan.

"Forty one years ago, an extraordinary session of the OIC was held in Pakistan to discuss the situation in Afghanistan," he told the gathering, which also included Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi alongside delegates from the United States, China, Russia, the European Union and UN.


PM Imran said no other country had suffered as much as Afghanistan, adding that even before the Taliban seized control, half of the population was below the poverty line. He said that 75 per cent of the country's budget was also supported by foreign aid.

He noted that any country, in a situation similar to that of Afghanistan, would collapse.

Commending the other speaks for highlighting the gravity of the situation in the war-torn country, he said: "If the world doesn't act, this will be the biggest man-made crisis which is unfolding in front of us."

PM Imran said that the OIC also had a "religious duty" to help the Afghans.

Specifically addressing the United States, the prime minister said that Washington must "delink" the Taliban government from the 40 million Afghan citizens.

"They have been in conflict with the Taliban for 20 years but this [concerns] the people of Afghanistan," he said, adding that it was important to take immediate action.

He noted that the Taliban had to fulfill the commitments they had made to the international community, which included forming an inclusive government and ensuring women's rights.

"[However], the idea of human rights is different in every society," he said, giving the example of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province which borders the war-torn country.

"The city culture is completely different from the culture in rural areas [...] we give stipends to the parents of the girls so that they send them to school. But in districts bordering Afghanistan, if we are not sensitive to the cultural norms, then they won't send them to school despite receiving double the amount. We have to be sensitive about human rights and women rights," he said.

Qureshi proposes six-point framework to support Afghans
Following the recitation of Holy Quran, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi formally declared the extraordinary session "open". He was the first to address the summit.

"Let me start by commending Saudi Arabia for their leadership in convening this session," Qureshi said. "I want to welcome OIC Secretary General Taha. this is first the foreign ministerial meeting after his appointment."

FM Qureshi delivers his speech at the OIC Summit in Islamabad. — Photo: DawnNewsTV
"Pakistan is also gratified by the trust reposed in us by the OIC. Your presence here on a short notice affirms the importance the world and OIC holds for the people of Afghanistan. The significance of this gathering goes beyond mere symbolism. It is a matter of survival for them."

The foreign minister detailed the plight of people in Afghanistan, saying: "Over half their population — 22.8 million people — face food shortage. Millions of Afghan children are at risk of dying from malnutrition. This situation has been brought about by a multiplicity of factors such as years of conflict, poor governance and excessive dependence on foreign aid."

"August 2021 may have altered the political landscape in Afghanistan, but the needs of the people are the same."

Qureshi said that as per the UN, the Afghanistan situation "could become the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world", adding that those with "direct knowledge" have been giving "dire warnings" in this regard.

"It is unfortunate that the hardship and suffering of the Afghans has not eased," he said as he urged the Islamic world to stand with the people of Afghanistan just as it backed the right of "self-determination of the Palestinians and the Kashmiris".

"This is the moment to extend a collective helping hand. This is not the time to withhold support," he added.

"This organisation (OIC) has consistently supported the rights of the people and called on the rest of the world to think beyond their economic and domestic compulsions."

The minister highlighted that Pakistan would also be impacted by a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, adding that a "complete economic meltdown" could not be ruled out.

"The consequences of a humanitarian crisis and an economic collapse will be horrendous [...] we must not allow this to happen," he said, adding that Pakistan was doing all it could to help its Afghani brethren.

Qureshi said that the OIC session must usher in "visible change" and show the people of the war-torn country that it is united in helping them stabilise their economy and country.

Qureshi proposed a six-point frame work for the OIC to lead which included creating a vehicle with the OIC to channel "immediate and sustained humanitarian and financial support to the Afghan people".

"We should also agree to increase investment in the people of Afghanistan, bilaterally or through the OIC, in areas such as education, health and technical and vocational skills to the Afghan youth," he said.

He also proposed establishing a group of experts to consider ways and means to facilitate Afghanistan’s access to legitimate banking services. He also called for enhancing food security in the war-torn country, investing in building the capacity of Afghan institutions in countering terrorism and combating illicit trade in narcotics, and engage with Afghan authorities to help advance the expectations of the international community.

Concluding his speech, the foreign minister called on the countries to seize this "historic opportunity" to turn the tide in Afghanistan.

'Afghans have suffered for too long'
Addressing the OIC session, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said that the economic difficulties could trigger a humanitarian crisis and lead to further instability which could impact regional and international peace.

He said that the OIC meeting expressed solidarity with the Afghans and demonstrated to the world the need for immediate action to put an end to the situation in the war-torn country.

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud addresses the OIC Summit in Islamabad. — DawnNewsTV
"The people of Afghanistan have suffered for too long," he said, adding that they had faced years of instability.

The Saudi minister urged OIC member states to play a part in providing the Afghans with the necessary support and to prevent an economic collapse in the country.

Highlighting the assistance provided by the kingdom in the past, he said that Saudi Arabia had recently airlifted food supplies on the directives of King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

He said that the kingdom also condemned terrorist actions targeting minorities in Afghanistan. "We promote peace and security as it requires cooperative action from the international community," he said.

Concluding his speech, he expressed the hope that the OIC meeting would come up with a proper resolution as well as recommendations to alleviate the difficulties being faced by the Afghans.

'OIC moot sends universal message of harmony and solidarity'
OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha began by thanking the participants for electing him. He also voiced his appreciation for Saudi Arabia for supporting "Islamic solidarity", and thanked Pakistan for the cordial welcome.

"By hosting this event, Pakistan reaffirms its total commitment to the issues facing the Muslim community with a keen dedication to security and peace for region and world," he said.

OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha addresses the OIC meeting. — DawnNewsTV
He also thanked the participants for travelling for the OIC meeting despite the pandemic and the spread of the Omicron variant. "This effort gives a universal message of harmony and solidarity," he said, adding that the Afghan issue has always been high on the OIC agenda.

"The OIC has always taken a strong position which supports its member countries [...] the joint secretariat calls for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Afghanistan," he said.

The OIC secretary general said that the role of OIC members in delivering humanitarian assistance was more important now than ever before as the pandemic had exacerbated existing challenges.

"We commend the humanitarian assistance provided by some member states to the Afghan people. We also call for all parties concerned to cooperate with the OIC mission in Kabul to provide relief to the affected Afghan people," he said.

"The OIC is ready to carry out a follow-up of the outcome and to play its role in supporting humanitarian action in coordination with the relevant OIC missions and relief agencies across the Muslim world,' he said.

Capital on lockdown ahead of moot
On Sunday, the capital was on lockdown, ring-fenced with barbed wire barriers and shipping-container roadblocks where police and soldiers stood guard.

The foreign ministers of about 20 countries are attending the meeting, while 10 other countries are being represented by their deputy ministers. The rest have sent senior officials for the session.

Moreover, officials of the UN, global financial institutions, international and regional organisations and important non-OIC countries like Japan and Germany have also been invited.

No nations have yet formally recognised the Taliban government and diplomats face the delicate task of channelling aid to the stricken Afghan economy without also propping up the hardline group.

FM Qureshi said the meeting would speak “for the people of Afghanistan” rather than “a particular group”.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were the only three countries to recognise the previous Taliban government of 1996 to 2001.

Qureshi said there was a difference between “recognition and engagement” with the new order in Kabul.

“Let us nudge them through persuasion, through incentives, to move in the right direction,” he told reporters ahead of the OIC meeting.

“A policy of coercion and intimidation did not work. If it had worked, we wouldn't have been in this situation.“

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan on Sunday has announced to provide one billion Saudi riyals in aid to Afghanistan at the Extraordinary Session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers.

Addressing the OIC summit in Islamabad, the Saudi FM paid tribute to Pakistan for convening the moot and making the best arrangements in the shortest possible time.

The FM also thanked Islamabad for arranging the meeting and the OIC secretary-general and others for attending it.

The Saudi FM announced one billion riyals worth of aid to Afghanistan, stating that the Afghan issue must be looked at on humanitarian grounds and that the people in the war-torn country, including women and children are suffering.

“The economic crisis in Afghanistan could get more serious, the people there are looking forward to our help,” he added.

Read KSA's delegation arrives for OIC-CFM on Kabul

He reiterated that “we want peace in Afghanistan” and that the tense situation in the war-ravaged country could have an impact on the region and the world.

Pakistan also shared a six-point strategy to address Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, food security, and economic revival besides its institutional capacity building to counter the threat of terrorism.

This was proposed by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in his opening address at the 17th extraordinary session.

Welcoming foreign delegations for the OIC moot in Islamabad, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Satudray that the extraordinary session was an expression of solidarity with the Afghan people.

Pakistan is hosting the extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers from the OIC as well as representatives of the powerful countries in order to develop a joint strategy to prevent humanitarian crisis and economic collapse in Afghanistan.

 

[Napa]

With the rebound in oil prices, OIC countries like SA, Kuwait etc. are flush with money. They can easily provide a few billion dollars to Afghanistan.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Delighted to have <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OICInPakistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OICInPakistan</a>, a very warm welcome to all delegates. Let's come together to uplift Muslim communities across the globe & stand with our brethren in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> at their time of need. As a Muslim never leaves his brother alone in crucial times. <a href="https://t.co/NKJusAp3Ll">pic.twitter.com/NKJusAp3Ll</a></p>— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1472593172593319944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Sunday set up a humanitarian fund to be operated by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to help avert the humanitarian and economic crises in Afghanistan, as Prime Minister Imran khan warned that the neighbouring country could potentially become the “biggest man-made crisis” if the world did not act.

The announcement of the fund was part of the measures the 57-member Islamic bloc agreed upon after the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) hosted by Pakistan. However, it is unclear if the decisions made by the OIC will make an immediate impact on the ground in Afghanistan, which is in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
The humanitarian fund would channel financial assistance to be provided by member states to Afghanistan.

The reason the trust fund has been set up is to establish a channel through which assistance could be provided to the people of Afghanistan. Currently, because of the sanctions imposed by the US and other Western countries, there are no formal banking channels or financial system operating in Afghanistan.
In the absence of formal banking channels, the countries interested in helping the people of Afghanistan are finding it difficult to do so.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who held a joint news conference along with OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha, said the establishment of a trust fund would help address that problem.
However, no pledges or donations were made yet to the newly created fund as Qureshi said the fund was just announced and hopefully member countries would start contributing to it soon.

He also admitted that another reason the fund was set up was because some of the member countries were not willing to channel assistance through the Taliban government. The OIC secretary general appointed a special envoy on Afghanistan, who would make sure the decisions made at the Islamabad conference were fully implemented. Over 20 foreign ministers including those from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, Jordon, Kuwait and Bangladesh attended the day-long meeting at the Parliament House. The foreign delegates were seated in the National Assembly hall, which otherwise is reserved for elected representatives.

The permanent members of the UN Security Council, European Union and international financial institutions also came to the meeting, making it the biggest international gathering on Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in the war-torn country. The Afghan acting foreign minister was also in attendance but was not given the podium during the open session. However, he did speak during the closed door session of the OIC meeting.

The OIC member countries, which were gathered to assess the current humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, were confronted with a grim scenario by a senior UN official. UN Relief Chief Martin Griffiths, who delivered the address on behalf of the global body’s secretary general, gave a startling presentation about the nightmare scenario in Afghanistan. “[Around] 23 million people are already facing hunger. Health facilities are overflowing with malnourished children. Some 70 percent of teachers are not getting paid and millions of children, Afghanistan future, are out of school,” Martin said.


He maintained that the Afghan economy was on free fall -- something that would take down the entire population. The UN representative also warned that as per the UN Development Programme, 97% of the Afghan population could slip below the poverty line by June next year if urgent steps were not taken to mitigate their sufferings. In his keynote address, PM Imran asked the US to delink the Taliban government from the 40 million Afghan citizens.

“The United States specifically must delink the Taliban government from the 40 million Afghan citizens. Even if they have been in conflict with the Taliban for 20 years but this is the question of the people of Afghanistan" he said. The US has frozen $9.5 billion assets of the Afghan central bank since the Taliban takeover in August. During the closed door session, according to Foreign Minister Qureshi, Thomas West, the US special envoy for Afghanistan, hinted at a possible shift in the US approach.
Qureshi maintained that West had said the US did not want to attach any conditions to the humanitarian aid.

PM Imran, in his address, warned that Afghanistan could potentially become the “biggest man made crisis” if the world did not act. He said the healthcare and education sectors in Afghanistan were in shambles, and urged the world to take immediate action as the neighbouring country was heading fast towards a humanitarian crisis. “Unless action is taken immediately, Afghanistan is heading for chaos. Any government when it cannot pay salaries to public servants, doctors and nurses is going to collapse.

But chaos suits no one. It certainly does not suit the United States,” the prime minister added.
PM Imran noted that if the Afghan government remained unable to counter terrorism because of a dearth of resources, other countries may also face a spillover impact. Mentioning the presence of the Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan and terror attacks inside Pakistan from that country, the prime minister said the only way to handle the terrorist outfits was a stable regime in Kabul.

He added that the IS was capable of carrying out international attacks. The prime minister said Pakistan also had the same concern, having faced the biggest collateral damage of the Afghan war with a loss of 80,000 people and shattered economy, and displacement of 3.5 million people internally. The premier welcomed the delegates in Pakistan, saying it was ironic that Islamabad had hosted an OIC moot on Afghanistan 41 years ago as well.


“No country has suffered from conflicts as much as Afghanistan.” He maintained that the situation in Afghanistan was also caused by the years of a corrupt government, suspension of foreign aid, freezing of foreign assets and a dysfunctional banking system, which could lead to the collapse of any State.
PM Imran said the OIC had a huge responsibility as “it is our religious duty too to support the suffering Afghan brethren”. The prime minister urged the world not to link their support to the Afghan people with the Taliban, but they should think of the 40 million Afghans heading towards disaster.

However, he also said the Taliban would also have to understand that the formation of an inclusive government, respect for human rights -- particularly women's rights -- and disallowing the use of Afghan soil for terrorism in other countries will pave way for international aid to Afghanistan. He also mentioned his meeting with the interim Afghan foreign minister in which the latter had categorically assured him to comply with all the conditions.

Read: Saudi FM announces 1 billion in aid for Afghanistan

Pakistan also shared a six-point strategy to address Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, food security, and economic revival besides its institutional capacity building to counter the threat of terrorism.
The strategy was proposed by Qureshi in his opening address at the session. Qureshi, who is also the chair of the session, also proposed creating a mechanism within the OIC countries for sustainable humanitarian and financial support to the Afghanistan government.

The foreign minister also called for increased investment in the education and vocational sectors of Afghanistan, either bilaterally or through the OIC platform. He also proposed the establishment of an expert group of the OIC and UN officials to revive the banking sector in Afghanistan that collapsed after the Taliban took over Kabul. Qureshi also called for enhanced engagement with Afghanistan for political and social inclusivity besides ensuring respect for fundamental rights, particularly women’s rights.
The minister commended Saudi Arabia for convening the session as the OIC chair and trusting Pakistan to host the extraordinary moot.

Besides other delegates, he also appreciated the secretary general of the OIC for rapid mobilisation and arrangements for the session on a short notice. According to the foreign minister, the gathering of OIC leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.
Calling it a matter of survival, the foreign minister said over half of the Afghan population faced food shortage. This, he claimed, made the population of two-thirds of the UN member states.

He said Pakistan had hosted an OIC session on Afghanistan in 1980 and after 41 years, Islamabad is obliged to host another session on the humanitarian crisis in the same country as the sufferings of the Afghan people had not ended. Qureshi reiterated that the World Food Programme and the UN had warned that Afghanistan could face the largest humanitarian crisis in the world.

“It is a moment to stand up for the Afghan people and they must be supported without any condition.”
The Muslim world leaders attending the session called for an immediate and unified action to avert the looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan that otherwise could impact world peace. In his address, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said the economic difficulties could trigger a humanitarian crisis and lead to further instability, impacting regional and international peace.
He added the people of Afghanistan had suffered for too long and had faced years of instability.

The Saudi minister said the OIC meeting expressed solidarity with the Afghans and drew the world’s attention towards the need for immediate action to put an end to the deteriorating situation. He also urged OIC member states to play a part in providing the Afghans with the necessary support and to prevent an economic collapse in the country. He told the gathering that Saudi Arabia had recently airlifted food supplies on the directives of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and also condemned terrorist actions targeting minorities in Afghanistan.

The OIC secretary general expressed his gratitude to the member countries for electing him to head the bloc and also thanked Pakistan for the warm welcome. “We thank Pakistan and its people for playing host to the conference, which is yet another expression of the country’s full commitment to the advancement of the issues of the Muslim Ummah, and its concern for promoting peace and security in the region,” he said. “This effort gives a universal message of harmony and solidarity,” he added.
The OIC official said the Afghan issue had always been high on the bloc’s agenda.

“The OIC has always taken a strong position which supports its member countries,” he said, adding that the Muslim world body called for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Afghanistan.
The OIC secretary general said that the role of the bloc’s members in delivering humanitarian assistance was more important now than ever before as the pandemic had exacerbated existing challenges.

“The OIC is ready to carry out a follow-up of the outcome and to play its role in supporting humanitarian action in coordination with the relevant OIC missions and relief agencies across the Muslim world.”

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2334653/oic-sets-up-humanitarian-fund-for-afghanistan

 

[MenInG]

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday termed the 17th extraordinary session of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers an example of the determination to help those in-need, lauding Pakistan for successfully organising the event.

"The OIC Extraordinary Session on Afghanistan is a prime example of our collective determination and action to help those most in-need," Blinken said in a Twitter post this evening.

"We thank Pakistan for hosting this vital meeting and inviting the global community to continue cooperating to support the Afghan people," he added.

The State Secretary also used the hashtag #OIC4Afg in his tweet to express his support and solidarity for the cause.

The successful hosting of the 17th Extraordinary Session of the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers on Afghanistan drew worldwide applause for Pakistan for making the global community awake to the deteriorating humanitarian and economic situation in the war-torn country.

Earlier, US Special Representative Thomas West also called it a “productive OIC session with important outcomes” – not least the creation of a humanitarian trust fund and the naming of an OIC Special Envoy.

“The US warmly welcomes the OIC’s role and contributions,” West said.

European Union Ambassador in Pakistan Androulla Kaminara also felicitated the Pakistani authorities for the same. “Congrats to Pakistan for successful OIC session. The EU has provided €300 M humanitarian aid for Afghanistan. Thanks to member states, total aid from EU more than 70% of total aid,” she tweeted.

Others to praise Pakistan for organising the summit included UK High Commissioner in Islamabad Christian Turner, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, and Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato Sri Saifuddin Abdullah.

Convened by Saudi Arabia as OIC chair and hosted by Pakistan with 20 foreign ministers, 10 deputy FMs and 437 delegates in attendance, the session decided to establish a Humanitarian Trust Fund under Islamic Development Bank and launch discussions with UN agencies for actions to unlock financial and banking channels for flow of liquidity and assistance.

The world leaders, government functionaries, diplomats and analysts termed the meeting of the 57-member Muslim states’ body, as a milestone achievement for Pakistan which also manifested its commitment for a stable Afghanistan besides recognition of its stance.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/233514...-pakistan-over-successful-moot-on-afghanistan