OIC summit on Afghanistan

[ghazi52]

Saudi delegation arrives in Pakistan to attend OIC summit on Afghanistan

APP | Naveed Siddiqui | Dawn.com
December 17, 2021

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib welcomes OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha at Islamabad International Airport. — Photo courtesy Radio Pakistan

Saudi delegates reached Islamabad on Friday to attend an extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers, scheduled to take place on December 19, to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

The moot was proposed by Saudi Arabia last month, following which Pakistan had welcomed the move and offered to host the session.

A delegation comprising Saudi Arabia's Afghan affairs department head Prince Abdullah bin Khalid bin Saud al-Kabir and Prince Jiluwi bin Turki arrived in Islamabad on Friday morning. The delegates were received by Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al Malki and senior officials from the Foreign Office (FO).

Later, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told media persons in Islamabad that 90 delegates invited to the summit had reached Islamabad and more were expected tomorrow.

Among those who had arrived in Islamabad was Islamic Development Bank (IDB) President Dr Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al Jasser, who was welcomed by the FO.


Upon reaching the capital, the IDB president commended Pakistan bringing OIC countries at one platform for stability in Afghanistan.

Speaking to state-run Radio Pakistan at Islamabad International Airport, he acknowledged Pakistan's efforts for extending "every possible assistance to Afghanistan".

All OIC countries held Pakistan's contribution in this regard in high esteem, Al Jasser said, adding that the participation of OIC ministers in the upcoming conference was an expression of their resolve for peace in Afghanistan.

OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha had also reached Islamabad on Thursday night to attend the summit. He was welcomed by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib.


Taha had said on the occasion that the OIC session would provide an opportunity to Muslim countries to discuss ways to help Afghan people, who were facing a looming humanitarian crisis.

According to Radio Pakistan, he said it was high time that Muslim countries considered ways to help their Afghan brethren at this critical time.

He also appreciated Pakistan's role in facilitating the evacuation of foreigners from Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power in Kabul and expressed the hope that Islamabad would continue to play a positive role in helping the people of Afghanistan.

The OIC secretary general met Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday, with the latter tweeting: "A pleasure to welcome OIC Secretary General H.E Hissein Brahim Taha to Pakistan. I look forward to working closely for the success of the 17th Extraordinary Session of the CFM on Afghanistan."


'World must not abandon Afghanistan'

Earlier in the day, the foreign minister also held a meeting with media persons to discuss the OIC summit.
He told media persons that the Afghan delegation attending the moot would be led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West would also attend the summit.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi interacts with media persons in Islamabad on Friday. — Photo by Naveed Siddiqui

The foreign minister said the world must not abandon Afghanistan, warning that if a humanitarian crisis was not averted in the war-torn country, its economy would collapse.

He further stated that in case of a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the country's neighbours, including Pakistan, and European Union states would have to prepare for another influx of refugees.

Qureshi said Pakistan was playing its role in providing assistance to Afghanistan and urged other countries to do the same.

In this regard, he highlighted that 75 per cent of Afghanistan's budgetary requirements were met via external support and now that Afghan assets had been frozen, the world needed to revisit its approach.

"Why should Afghan women and children suffer?" he remarked.

He added that the Afghan government was ready to reopen schools in the country but lacked resources to pay salaries to its employees.

"We are expecting some financial support from OIC member states," he added.

Qureshi announced that a meeting of Troika Plus — comprising Pakistan, China, Russia and the United States — P5 countries and Germany, Japan, Italy and Australia would also be held in Islamabad to discuss the Afghan situation.

He added that Pakistan had also constituted a platform comprising six countries from the region, and its first virtual meeting would be held in Islamabad, second in Iran and third in Beijing.


The summit

A formal announcement for the OIC moot was made by Foreign Minister Qureshi on December 4, who had said that the purpose of the summit was to avert a humanitarian crisis rearing its head in Afghanistan following the US withdrawal.

Addressing a press conference, he had said the session would draw world leaders’ attention towards the fact that a lack of prompt response would lead to food shortages for some 22.8 million people and affect about 3.2m children with malnutrition in Afghanistan.

He had added that the conference would help mobilise resources to support Afghanistan.

The foreign minister had said the coming extraordinary session of the OIC was being held in Pakistan after a gap of 41 years, for which the special representatives of P5 countries, vice-president of European Union, and representatives of relevant UN agencies and the World Bank had also been invited.

“Germany, Japan, Canada and Australia have also been invited to help develop an international consensus on bringing Afghanistan out of crisis,” he had said.

The foreign minister had further stated that Pakistan would invite a high-level delegation from Afghanistan so that they could engage and be engaged by the world leaders to know about ground realities.

Ahead of the foreign delegates' arrival, Qureshi said on Thursday that with members of the international community and the Taliban at the same platform, the coming meeting of the OIC in Islamabad would prove to be a stepping stone in finding solutions to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

The foreign minister said by hosting the event, Pakistan was playing a positive role and bridging the communication gap between the world and the Taliban.

He confirmed that special representatives from the United States, Russia and China would attend the moot.
According to Radio Pakistan, the FO has finalised all arrangements for welcoming foreign delegates invited to attend the summit.

 

[MultaniGuy]

Good, hopefully, all the business contracts will go to China in Afghanistan.

At least they are more trustworthy than people from the West.

 

[ghazi52]

OIC diplomats arrive as Afghans face humanitarian catastrophe

Extraordinary CFM session on Sunday to mull over one-point agenda about Afghanistan


Kamran Yousaf
December 17, 2021

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi received Secretary General of the OIC Hissein Ibrahim Taha on his arrival at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 17. PHOTO: PID


ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is all set to host the Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Islamabad on Sunday with a one-point agenda to avert humanitarian catastrophe and economic collapse of Afghanistan.

The extraordinary meeting of top OIC diplomats is also being attended by the US, Germany, Japan, EU, Australia, France as well as representatives of international financial institutions, thus making it the biggest international gathering on Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in August.
The acting Afghan foreign minister is expected to lead the Taliban delegation at the conference, providing him the rare opportunity to put across the group’s perspective before the representatives of countries that matter the most.

Pakistan is hoping the OIC meeting would lead not just to mere commitments but concrete steps for assisting the people of Afghanistan, who are facing dire humanitarian situation.

The international aid agencies and the UN have warned that nearly 23 million Afghans are facing acute food shortage, while about a million children could die this winter if urgent help does not reach Afghanistan.

Saudi delegation arrives in Islamabad for OIC special moot on Afghanistan. PHOTO: APP

The other issue is the restoration of economic assistance and banking channels that were not functional since the Taliban takeover as Western countries withheld assistance while the US froze $9.5 billion assets of the Afghan Central Bank.

A Foreign Office statement said on Friday that the session was being convened at the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the chair of the OIC. Pakistan had welcomed the call and offered to host the session.

Besides 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 an aggravating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. Besides expressing solidarity with the Afghan people, the CFM is also 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,” the statement read.

“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,” it added.

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.”

The Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) will be preceded by the senior officials meeting on Saturday (today).

 

[ghazi52]

 

[kingQamaR]

I’m sorry

real bunch of losers /.Late zulfighar Bhutto intentions were right idea coming up with OIC

wasted on these current clowns

 

[ghazi52]

At KSA’s initiative, Pakistan hosts OIC’s Council of FMs session today

Prime Minister Imran Khan will deliver the keynote address at OIC

By Mariana Baabar
December 18, 2021

ISLAMABAD: At the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan is hosting the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Islamabad on Saturday. The Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) will be preceded by the senior officials meeting.

Prime Minister Imran Khan will deliver the keynote address. Pakistan’s role sees it gathering together members of the international community and the Taliban government on the same platform, hoping that it would prove to be a stepping stone in finding a solution to the looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The Afghan delegation attending the moot is being led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

It has emphasised time and again that lack of prompt response would lead to food shortages for some 22.8 million people and affect about 3.2m children with malnutrition. “The OIC Extraordinary session in Islamabad would prove to be a stepping stone in finding solutions to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and this was also an opportunity for world capitals to know about ground realities from Taliban representatives.
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“In case of such a crisis, the country's neighbours, including Pakistan, and European Union states, would have to prepare for another influx of refugees. We are expecting some financial support from the OIC member states," said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

In this regard he pointed out that Pakistan was playing a positive role and bridging the communication gap between the world and the Taliban while special representatives on Afghanistan from the United States, Russia, China and European Union would also attend the event.

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 US, UK, France, China, Russia, Germany, Italy and Japan.

“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,” said the Foreign Office.

OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha, reached Islamabad on Thursday night and while speaking to official media said, “The world must not abandon Afghanistan and it is now high time that Muslim countries consider ways to help their Afghan brethren at this critical time.”

Later a meeting of Troika Plus – comprising Pakistan, China, Russia and the United States — P5 countries and Germany, Japan, Italy and Australia would also be held in Islamabad to discuss the Afghan situation.

While a delegation from Saudi Arabia including Afghan affairs department head Prince Abdullah bin Khalid bin Saud al-Kabir and Prince Jiluwi bin Turki have arrived. Official sources say that the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan will also attend the conference.

On the eve of the conference, the Foreign Office said that 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 Extraordinary session would provide an opportunity to consider practical and concrete steps to help address the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people,” said the spokesperson.

According to the tentative programme for Saturday, the conference will included statements from Foreign Minister Qureshi, Saudi Foreign Minister Farhan Al-Saud, who is also the OIC Summit Chair, Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary General of the OIC, statements on behalf of OIC Regional Groups (Asia, Africa, Arab) and a final statement by President Islamic Development Bank, Dr Muhammad Al-Jasser.

 

[ghazi52]

Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is seen on his arrival at Islamabad International Airport on Saturday. — Photo provided by Tahir Khan


Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday expressed confidence that countries participating in the 17th extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), due to be held tomorrow, will be able to reach consensus on measures to improve the situation in Afghanistan.

Talking to the media ahead of a meeting of senior officials of participant countries in Islamabad, he said he was "very happy" that Pakistan was now receiving support for the stance it had held for long — that a humanitarian crisis could arise in Afghanistan and the country's subsequent economic collapse would affect the entire region.

"Prime Minister Imran Khan has been constantly trying to bring the world's attention [to Afghanistan] and I am confident that Pakistan, along with foreign ministers of other Muslim countries, will move a step forward in building that consensus."

He noted that the world "seemed to be reaching consensus" on the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan where people were facing malnutrition and economic difficulties, adding that the war-torn country's economy was reeling from the effects of a non-functioning banking system.

"I had mentioned yesterday that around 11 Nato commanders who had served in Afghanistan were pointing towards this (crisis). Those ambassadors, who have served in Kabul and are aware of the ground realities, are making the world aware [of the situation] and saying it is their opinion that Biden administration should review its policy to protect humanity and millions of Afghans in whom the US and the West have invested so much, for their capacity building, training and to shore up their economy."

He was referring to a joint message issued by 12 former US generals and ambassadors earlier this week in which they urged the Biden administration to help rebuild a banking system in Afghanistan to prevent a total collapse of the Afghan state.

The foreign minister, in his press conference today, said the Afghan people were facing a new test and the world should not exhibit ignorance. A lot of voices were joining Pakistan, including from the European Union, to call for improving the situation in Afghanistan, he added.

Qureshi held up a copy of a letter that he said had been written by 37 American congressmen and addressed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in which they said "it is our responsibility, our moral obligation to avert a humanitarian crisis" in Afghanistan.

"I believe this new thought is the purpose of this extraordinary session of foreign ministers. It was our wish to bring the world's attention to Afghanistan and I can see the progress."

Qureshi said he was waiting for his guests — the visiting dignitaries — with "great anticipation", sharing that around 437 delegates had registered themselves for the summit. A meeting would be held today to discuss the agenda and working plan for the Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting tomorrow, he said, adding: "I am confident that we will reach consensus this time and tomorrow's session will be very important and historic.

"We are standing at a point in history where if we take the right step, there can be peace in the region [and] stability and prosperity in Afghanistan. And God forbid, we do not take timely steps and correct decisions, Afghanistan could face another crisis, and all of its neighbours will be affected. And not only them but Europe can also be affected because of the influx of economic migrants."

The foreign minister said that Pakistan also wished for Afghan refugees in the country to be repatriated honourably but that could only happen when there was stability and opportunities for livelihood.

In response to a question, Qureshi said that meetings would be held on the sidelines of the OIC summit and delegations would also meet prime minister Imran Khan. There are 13 or 14 meetings scheduled for Saturday (today), he disclosed.

Arrival of foreign dignitaries
Meanwhile, foreign dignitaries continued to arrive in Pakistan ahead of the OIC summit. Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in Islamabad on Saturday and was welcomed by federal minister Ali Mohammad Khan and Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan, Mansoor Ahmed Khan.

Foreign Minister of Bosnia Dr Bisera Turkovic, Foreign Minister of Malaysia Saifuddin Abdullah and Foreign Minister of Indonesia Retno Marsudi also arrived in the capital earlier in the day. They were welcomed by Defence Production Minister Zubaida Jalal, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.

In addition, Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Nuryshev Shakhrat and Special Representative of Germany for Afghanistan Ambassador Jasper Wieck also reached the country.

Later, US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West also reached Islamabad.

After his arrival in the capital, he tweeted, "Pleased to be in Islamabad for an Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, focused on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. [It is] a timely and important initiative."

The moot was proposed by Saudi Arabia last month, following which Pakistan had welcomed the move and offered to host the session.

A day earlier, OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha, who arrived in Pakistan on Friday, said it was high time to think how Muslim countries could help their Afghan brethren at this critical juncture.

He later met with FM Qureshi at the Foreign Office.

President of the Islamic Development Bank Dr Mohammad Sulaiman Al-Jasser, on reaching Islamabad, said participation of OIC ministers in the conference was an expression of their resolve for peace in Afghanistan and Afghan people would soon get the fruits of peace.

Besides OIC members and observers, the Foreign Office said, the UN system, international financial institutions, international and regional organisations and non-OIC members, including P-5 countries, European Union and countries like Japan, and Germany have also been invited.

Welcoming the delegates to Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted: "The extraordinary session of OIC CFM is an expression of solidarity with the Afghan ppl and [is being held] to focus our collective energies on addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan."

He added that he was looking forward to speaking at the conference.

 

[ghazi52]

 

[MultaniGuy]

View attachment 801920



View attachment 801921

Good. I guess. The Afghan Taliban are back.

It was worth it.
Hopefully now things will be in Pakistan's favor.

Almost as if its out of a movie.

 

[ghazi52]

Opening session of the senior officials meeting preparatory to the extraordinary meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, convened by Saudi Arabia and hosted by Pakistan.

 

[ghazi52]

Big statement from the United Nations at the summit:
“The United Nations stands with the OIC on whatever decisions it takes on Afghanistan”, says UN SG Special Representative..

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan hosted the biggest international summit on Afghanistan that was attended by OIC, P5 and delegates from around the world. He's a Group Photo of Prime Minister Imran Khan and OIC Delegates at 17th Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.

 

[ghazi52]

Afghanistan will become biggest man-made crisis if world doesn’t act, says PM Imran at OIC summit

AFP | Dawn.com
December 19, 2021

Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi sit among foreign dignitaries during an extraordinary session of the OIC in Islamabad on Sunday. — Photo: DawnNewsTV

This photo shows Prime Minister Imran Khan during the OIC session on Sunday. — Photo courtesy: PMO

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday issued a clear warning to the global community, stating that Afghanistan could potentially become the biggest "man-made crisis in the world" if it did not act now.

The premier expressed the views while delivering the keynote address at the 17th extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers to discuss the situation in neighbouring Afghanistan at the Parliament House in Islamabad.

Envoys from 57 Islamic nations as well as observer delegations are participating in today's session. The premier, who was the last to speak before the televised portion of the event concluded, began his speech by welcoming the participants to Pakistan.

"Forty one years ago, an extraordinary session of the OIC was held in Pakistan to discuss the situation in Afghanistan," he told the gathering, which also included Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi alongside delegates from the United States, China, Russia, the European Union and UN.

PM Imran said no other country had suffered as much as Afghanistan, adding that even before the Taliban seized control, half of the population was below the poverty line. He said that 75 per cent of the country's budget was also supported by foreign aid.

He noted that any country, in a situation similar to that of Afghanistan, would collapse.

Commending the other speakers for highlighting the gravity of the situation in the war-torn country, he said: "If the world doesn't act, this will be the biggest man-made crisis which is unfolding in front of us."

PM Imran said that the OIC also had a "religious duty" to help the Afghans.

Specifically addressing the United States, the prime minister said that Washington must "delink" the Taliban government from the 40 million Afghan citizens.

"They have been in conflict with the Taliban for 20 years but this [concerns] the people of Afghanistan," he said, adding that it was important to take immediate action.

He noted that the Taliban had to fulfill the commitments they had made to the international community, which included forming an inclusive government and ensuring women's rights.

"[However], the idea of human rights is different in every society," he said, giving the example of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province which borders the war-torn country.

"The city culture is completely different from the culture in rural areas [...] we give stipends to the parents of the girls so that they send them to school. But in districts bordering Afghanistan, if we are not sensitive to the cultural norms, then they won't send them to school despite receiving double the amount. We have to be sensitive about human rights and women rights," he said.

He reiterated that Afghanistan was headed for chaos unless the world took immediate action. Such a situation will not suit the US because "chaos means the inability to fight terrorism," he said, adding that Pakistan also faced a threat from ISIL (Daesh).

PM Imran said that Pakistan was currently housing over three million refugees, adding that country was also providing shelter to more than 200,000 refugees who had overstayed their visas.

"The situation in Afghanistan means they can't go back. We are already suffering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are not in a position to deal with a influx of refugees."

He questioned how poorer countries, that were still struggling to get their economic back up, would be able to cope with an influx of refugees.

Addressing the participants, the premier said he was impressed by the suggestions put forward by Islamic development banks for providing immediate assistance.

"I look forward to the fact that you will come up with a road map by the end of this evening," he said, reiterating that "chaos in Afghanistan suited no one".


Qureshi proposes six-point framework to support Afghans


The session began with the recitation of Holy Quran, following which Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi formally declared the extraordinary session "open". He was the first to address the summit.

"Let me start by commending Saudi Arabia for their leadership in convening this session," Qureshi said. "I want to welcome OIC Secretary General Taha. this is first the foreign ministerial meeting after his appointment."

FM Qureshi delivers his speech at the OIC Summit in Islamabad. — Photo: DawnNewsTV

"Pakistan is also gratified by the trust reposed in us by the OIC. Your presence here on a short notice affirms the importance the world and OIC holds for the people of Afghanistan. The significance of this gathering goes beyond mere symbolism. It is a matter of survival for them."

The foreign minister detailed the plight of people in Afghanistan, saying: "Over half their population — 22.8 million people — face food shortage. Millions of Afghan children are at risk of dying from malnutrition. This situation has been brought about by a multiplicity of factors such as years of conflict, poor governance and excessive dependence on foreign aid."

"August 2021 may have altered the political landscape in Afghanistan, but the needs of the people are the same."

Qureshi said that as per the UN, the Afghanistan situation "could become the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world", adding that those with "direct knowledge" have been giving "dire warnings" in this regard.

"It is unfortunate that the hardship and suffering of the Afghans has not eased," he said as he urged the Islamic world to stand with the people of Afghanistan just as it backed the right of "self-determination of the Palestinians and the Kashmiris".

"This is the moment to extend a collective helping hand. This is not the time to withhold support," he added.

"This organisation (OIC) has consistently supported the rights of the people and called on the rest of the world to think beyond their economic and domestic compulsions."

 

[Eagle_Nest]

Pakistan hosted the biggest international summit on Afghanistan that was attended by OIC, P5 and delegates from around the world. He's a Group Photo of Prime Minister Imran Khan and OIC Delegates at 17th Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.

View attachment 801983

Where is afghan FM in the group photo?

 

[ghazi52]

Where is afghan FM in the group photo?

Although this is for them, but nobody including Pakistan, recognized Afghanistan. Hence absence.