Pakistan is hosting an Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) to consider the situation in Afghanistan on December 19 in Islamabad. The Session is being convened on the initiative of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – the OIC Summit Chair, a press release by the Embassy of Pakistan in Cairo said.
A Senior Officials Meeting will precede the meeting on December 18. Besides the member states and observer countries, the UN system, international financial institutions and some non-member states including the P-5 (at the Special Envoys level) are also invited to the Session.
The Extraordinary Session is convened in view of the serious humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. According to UN estimates, 60 per cent of Afghanistan’s 38 million people face “crisis levels of hunger” and the situation is getting worse every day. The advent of winter has further exacerbated the situation. If left unattended, the situation could aggravate into the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, said the Ambassador of The Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Arab Republic of Egypt, Sajid Bilal.
The objectives for convening the CFM are to express solidarity of the Muslim Ummah with the Afghan people, and to play our part in containing and reversing the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, especially in terms of food shortages, displacement of people and potential economic collapse. Also, to galvanize international support for the provision of urgent and sustained humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people. To this end, the possibility of a dedicated ‘vehicle’ under the aegis of the OIC could be considered; and, to refocus the attention of the broader international community that the unfolding situation in Afghanistan is not only a humanitarian challenge but could also exacerbate the security situation, spurring instability, causing mass exodus of refugees, and adversely affecting regional and international peace and security.
A repeat of the mistakes of the past, abandoning the people of Afghanistan, would be a monumental failure on part of the international community as a whole, said the Ambassador.
The international community is concerned over the situation in Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s international partners also wants to help. Continued engagement of the international community with Afghanistan is imperative. While provision of urgent and immediate humanitarian support remains a core priority, it is equally important to take steps to prevent economic meltdown in the country. If a humanitarian crisis is averted and economic stability is assured, peace in the country can be consolidated. This will also have a regional peace dividend, Ambassador Bilal said.
Afghanistan is a founding member of the OIC. As part of the Islamic Ummah, we are bound by fraternal bonds of amity and brotherhood with the people of Afghanistan. Pakistan believes that the OIC can lead the way in helping our Afghan brothers and sisters. Over the years, the OIC has extended consistent support to the people of Afghanistan. Today, more than ever before, the Afghan people need support of the international community including the OIC.
On its part, Pakistan has been engaged in intense diplomatic outreach. This is illustrated by the Prime Minister Imran Khan’s contacts with world leaders, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s visit to 4 neighboring countries of Afghanistan (Iran, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan), establishment of the 6 neighboring countries platform at Pakistan’s initiative, participation in the Moscow format meetings, and hosting of Troika plus meeting, to mention a few, the Ambassador said.
This is not the first time Pakistan has come forward to help its Afghan brethren. In January 1980, the first Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers was held in Islamabad, to consider the situation in Afghanistan.
The 17th Extraordinary Session is another manifestation of Pakistan’s consistent efforts and its leading role to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan and the continued well-being of the Afghan people.
Pakistan believes that the Extraordinary session would provide an opportunity to consider practical and concrete steps to help address the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people. Concrete pledges by the international community including the OIC Member States of financial and in-kind support would be important.
Pakistan counts on the full support of the OIC Member States and the international community to extend all possible support to the Afghan people in this hour of dire need. “On its part, Pakistan will continue to stand by our Afghan brethren,” said Ambassador Sajid Bilal.
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