Foreign Minister suggests six-point framework to support Afghans financially

ISLAMABAD, December 19: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has proposed a six-point framework to support the Afghan people.
In his welcome address during the 17th extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers on Sunday, the foreign minister 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.” He suggested that 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 the legitimate banking system and ease the liquidity challenge of Afghan people.
“We should focus on enhancing food security for the Afghan people and the Islamic organisation of food security must lead this effort.”
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 to withhold support. He said that Pakistan concurred with the United Nations Secretary General that the humanitarian assistance be provided without conditions.
He said the gathering of OIC leaders at short notice also reaffirmed their commitment to address 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 was obliged to host another session on the humanitarian crisis in the same country as the sufferings of the Afghan people had not ended.
Qureshi referred to the World Food Programme, 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 is a moment to stand up and that the Afghan people must be supported without any condition. -TLTP