ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday reiterated that the world must not abandon Afghanistan, warning that if a humanitarian crisis was not averted in the war-torn country, its economy would collapse.
The foreign minister held a meeting with media persons to discuss an extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers, scheduled to take place on December 19 in Islamabad.
He said in a tweet that he had held a “very constructive session with people from Pakistan’s media fraternity, discussing the upcoming 17th extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers”.
“Together we must draw the world’s attention to act on the dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan,” Qureshi wrote on Twitter.
Very constructive session with members of Pakistan’s media fraternity, discussing the upcoming 17th Extraordinary Session of the @OIC_OCI Council of Foreign Ministers. Together we must draw the world’s attention to act on the dire humanitarian crisis in #Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/PSkmfPHYAF
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) December 17, 2021
He told media persons that the Afghan delegation attending the moot would be led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West would also attend the summit.
The foreign minister pointed out that in case of a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the country’s neighbours, including Pakistan, and European Union states would have to prepare for another influx of refugees. “Pakistan is playing its role in providing assistance to Afghanistan and urged other countries to do the same,” he added.
In this regard, he highlighted that 75 per cent of Afghanistan’s budgetary requirements were met via external support and now that Afghan assets had been frozen, the world needed to revisit its approach. “Why should Afghan women and children suffer?” he remarked.
He added that the Afghan government was ready to reopen schools in the country but lacked resources to pay salaries to its employees. “We are expecting some financial support from OIC member states,” he added.
Qureshi also stressed for rebooting the banking system of Afghanistan, saying that this will be the first big step towards the economic stability of the country. He pointed out that many Afghan nationals living abroad want to help their families back home by remitting the money.
The foreign minister further said there was a possibility of peace and stability in Afghanistan after forty years and if this is missed, “we should be prepared for a new exodus of refugees which will not only affect Pakistan, but also the whole world including the European countries”.
Qureshi announced that a meeting of Troika Plus — comprising Pakistan, China, Russia and the United States — P5 countries and Germany, Japan, Italy and Australia would also be held in Islamabad to discuss the Afghan situation.
He added that Pakistan had also constituted a platform comprising six countries from the region, and its first virtual meeting would be held in Islamabad, second in Iran and third in Beijing.
OIC and Afghanistan crisis
Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had announced that Pakistan will host an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Addressing a press conference, the minister highlighted that the objective behind the extraordinary session is to highlight the need for urgent assistance and mobilisation of resources to avert a humanitarian crisis and economic collapse in war-torn Afghanistan.
According to Radio Pakistan, the FO has finalised all arrangements for welcoming foreign delegates invited to attend the summit.
