The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’s Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) on Sunday welcomed the participation of China in the extraordinary meeting in Islamabad, to discuss the Afghanistan issue.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, OIC-CFM appreciated the presence of a Chinese representative in the session.
The meeting also welcomed the presence of the representatives of the United Nations Secretary General, the US, the UK, France, Russian Federation, Japan, Germany, Italy, European Union, Economic Cooperation Organization, League of Arab States and Gulf Cooperation Council.
The Council of Foreign Ministers commended Pakistan and Iran’s hospitality in hosting millions of Afghan refugees for over four decades. It also pointed out that millions of Afghan refugees are already residing in neighbouring countries and beyond due to the protracted conflict and ensuing economic and social challenges spanning over 40 years.
The meeting stressed the need to support Afghanistan in addressing poverty, creating employment opportunities, and provision of essential services to its citizens, in particular food, clean water, quality education, health services.
OIC, while deciding to launch an Afghanistan Food Security Programme, requested the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) to undertake necessary work in this regard using the capacity of the Organization’s Food Security Reserves, when necessary.
It also urged the OIC Member States, international donors, the UN Funds and programmes and other international actors to generously contribute to the Afghanistan Food Security Programme.
The meeting reiterated its call on the OIC Secretary-General to engage with donor financial institutions to provide necessary humanitarian and economic assistance to Afghanistan as well as Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries.
An urgent appeal was also made to OIC member States, the international community including the UN system, international organizations, and international financial institutions to continue to provide all possible and necessary recovery, reconstruction, development, financial, educational, technical and material assistance for Afghanistan as policy tools to promote realization and enjoyment of fundamental rights and freedoms by all Afghan citizens.
The Islamabad moot also decided to appoint Ambassador Tarig Ali Bakheet, Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian, Cultural and Family Affairs at the OIC General Secretariat, as Special Envoy of the Secretary General of OIC for Afghanistan, to coordinate aid and assistance efforts, and mandated to pursue economic and political engagement with Afghanistan, and to submit periodic reports.
The participants noted the importance of the 15th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization, which took place in Ashgabat on 28 November 2021, and the Ashgabat consensus for actions adopted at this Summit to address the humanitarian issues in Afghanistan.
The OIC ministers recognized the disproportionate impact of Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation on its neighbouring countries, especially in terms of fresh influx of refugees and irregular migration.
It was recalled that millions of Afghan refugees were already residing in neighbouring countries and beyond due to the protracted conflict and ensuing economic and social challenges spanning over 40 years.
The ministers acknowledged the efforts of the international community, neighboring countries, donor agencies and other international organizations in urgent provision of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, and stated that institutions and capacity building developed during decades of international assistance and support to Afghanistan were at the verge of being lost. Rebuilding state institutions and necessary capacity will take decades if urgent actions are not taken to stem the negative trajectory, they said.
The ministers recalled the international community’s expectations that all Afghans seize this historic opportunity to promote national reconciliation, observe the international conventions and agreements, and adhere to the international governing norms enshrined in the UN Charter and its resolutions.
They reaffirmed the importance of protecting and respecting the right to life, security, and dignity of the people of Afghanistan in compliance with the Islamic principles and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
The OIC delegates emphasized the importance of establishing inclusive governmental structures which adopted moderate and sound domestic and foreign policies, with a friendly approach towards neighbors of Afghanistan, aimed at realizing the shared goals of durable peace, security, safety and long-term prosperity of Afghanistan and the region.
They also emphasized the importance of meaningful participation of women in all spheres, and upholding human rights, including for women, children and minorities.
They stressed that the menace of terrorism remained a grave threat to the peace, security and stability of Afghanistan, regional countries and the international community.
The OIC members welcomed the assurances for the safety and security of the diplomatic personnel and humanitarian workers, and international organizations in Afghanistan as well as grant of general amnesty, refraining from reprisals, and to allow safe passage to all those who wish to travel to and from Afghanistan.
