Islamabad
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Tuesday an ‘extraordinary meeting’ of the foreign ministers of Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries in Islamabad will subjectively review Afghanistan’s aggravated situation.
In a statement on Tuesday, the foreign minister said that meeting, commencing on December 19, will prove helpful for evaluation of way forward for political and economic stability in Afghanistan.
“According to a United Nations (UN), almost half of Afghanistan population fears starvation right now. Situation is getting worse day by day.” Shah Mehmood Qureshi said.
Foreign Minister said that World Food Program warned of approximately 3.2 Afghan million children falling prey to famine. According to a report by UNOCHA, 665000 Afghanis have gone homeless this year between January to September, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said.
“Looming winters have toughened the situation for people of Afghanistan. A huge crisis may take place if Afghanistan is not taken care off” the foreign minister said.
Foreign Minister termed Afghanistan as one of founding members of OIC and said that this was the time to pay back. “Being part of Muslim Ummah, it is our responsibility to take care of our Muslim brothers and sisters of Afghanistan” Qureshi said.
On the other hand, speaking at Margalla Dialogue in Islamabad on Tuesday, he said Pakistan is hosting an extraordinary session of the OIC on Sunday to mobilize support for providing adequate food, medicine and housing to millions of Afghans in dire distress.
Qureshi said Pakistan continued to work at every level for a stable, peaceful and prosperous regional future.
He mentioned the role played by Pakistan in facilitating Afghan peace talks and the evacuations of foreign nationals from Afghanistan. He said Pakistan has been working closely with the international partners for humanitarian outreach and bringing together neighboring countries of Afghanistan and international stakeholders for a coordinated approach.
