The United States has finally acknowledged that there is a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The US-sponsored resolution adopted by the United Nations Security Council will go a long way in facilitating the inflow of funds to deal with the extraordinary human plight situation in the war-torn country.
The resolution allowed the payment of funds, other financial assets or economic resources, and the provision of goods and services necessary to ensure the timely delivery of such assistance or to support such activities. It noted that such assistance supports basic human needs in Afghanistan and was “not a violation” of sanctions imposed on entities linked to the Taliban.
The unanimous decree at the world body is a huge success to efforts launched by Pakistan and several other major powers, including China and Russia, to reach out to Afghanistan. The recently held extraordinary session of OIC foreign ministers also played an important role in advocating the humanitarian issue in Afghanistan.
This is undoubtedly a big diplomatic win for Islamabad for assisting Afghanistan at this critical juncture and now the rest of the international community is coming around. It is encouraging to see other key stakeholders also realise that helping avert a crisis in Afghanistan is not equivalent to recognising the Taliban government.
The international community has struggled over how to avert a humanitarian catastrophe amid an economic meltdown in Afghanistan since the Taliban swept back to power in mid-August, prompting the US to freeze $9.5bn in assets belonging to the Afghan central bank.
Pakistan understands that the situation is fast becoming unmanageable and with the harsh winter more than 22 million people will be facing food shortages and more than three million children will be malnourished. Although Pakistan has sent 50,000 tons of wheat, along with medicines and relief assistance to Afghanistan, this is a drop in the ocean compared to the actual needs of the Afghan people.
The consequences of ignoring the crisis in Afghanistan will be civil war and unrest. This puts a lot of pressure on countries like Pakistan, which already host to millions of Afghan refugees. This is primarily the reason Pakistan has been so vocal in urging the international community and the regional countries to find a solution for the Afghanistan crisis.
What is clear is that there is a dire need for the international community to come together and provide aid and assistance to Afghanistan. However, it is yet unclear as to how the funds released by the UNGA will reach the implementing arms, as the intention of the US is to keep them away from falling with Taliban.
