Pakistan is hosting the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Foreign Ministers’ conference today in Islamabad to bridge gap between Taliban and international community on Afghan humanitarian crisis. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the convenor of the OIC Conference.
Besides the Foreign Ministers from the OIC Member States and Observers, participants would also include special invitees from the United Nations system, International Financial Institutions and some non-member states including the United States, United Kingdom, France, China, Russia, Germany, Italy and Japan, as well as the EU. The Afghan Interim Government would also be represented at the CFM.
The meeting is being convened in the backdrop of the aggravating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. Besides expressing solidarity with the Afghan people, the CFM is expected to explore avenues for containing and reversing the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, especially in terms of food shortages, displacement of people and a potential economic collapse.
Pakistan has always maintained that continued engagement of the international community with Afghanistan is imperative and hosting of the CFM is another manifestation of Pakistan’s intense diplomatic outreach to consolidate support for the people of Afghanistan.
The 17th Extraordinary Session reflects Pakistan’s abiding commitment and consistent efforts to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan and the continued well-being of the Afghan people. The session would provide an opportunity to consider practical and concrete steps to help address the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people. Pakistan and Afghanistan are founding members of the OIC. Over the years, Pakistan and the OIC have extended consistent support to the people of Afghanistan. The first Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers was also held in Islamabad, in January 1980, also to consider the situation in Afghanistan. The last CFM hosted by Pakistan was in 2007. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also expressed that peace in Afghanistan was in the interest of the world, and vowed that Pakistan would continue to play its positive role in this regard. Ahead of upcoming meeting, he said Pakistan was helping Afghanistan on humanitarian grounds. He mentioned that the government was extending every possible facility to the Afghan citizens. He urged the international community to consider bringing improvement to the situation in Afghanistan.
The arrival of foreign delegates provide a way forward and to deliberate and find a way out of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Moreover, arrival of president Islamic Development Bank Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser would open doors for humanitarian aid to Afghan people.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations, with the membership of 57 states, covering four continents. The OIC is the collective voice of the Muslim world to ensure and safeguard their interest on economic socio and political areas.
It is pertinent to mention that the event would be an ideal opportunity for the world community to find out viable and durable way out of current Afghan crises. The people of Afghanistan and peace loving people is looking forward to see successful meeting and unanimity over resolution of Afghanistan issues. So, the peace and durable solution is in best interest of the world and particularly for Pakistan.
