FM Qureshi deems Afghan peace beneficial for world

Qureshi states Pakistan extending assistance to Kabul on humanitarian grounds

Afghan peace was in the interest of the world, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi stated on Friday, and pledged that Pakistan would keep playing a positive role in this respect.

Ahead of the forthcoming meeting of Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Afghanistan’s humanitarian emergency, the FM stated that the conditions could seriously influence neighboring countries in the region, and further stated that Islamabad was extending assistance to Kabul on humanitarian grounds. He said that the government was going as far as possible in facilitating Afghan citizens.

He said that the international community should consider improving the conditions in Afghanistan. He added that Islamabad was trying its best to fulfill its role in ensuring peace and security in Kabul.

He stated that NATO commanders were also concerned about the worsening situation in Afghanistan.

It should be noted that Pakistan is hosting the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC in Islamabad on December 19th in a bid to highlight the need for engaging with the Afghans. The conference is being organized at the initiative of Riyadh, which is the current OIC Chairman. Islamabad had welcomes the initiative and offered to be the host.

Apart from the foreign ministers of OIC member nations and delegates, invitees include officials from UN, global economic organizations,a few non-membersincludingthe US, UK, France, China, Russia, Germany, Italy and Japan, as well as the EU. The outgoing government in Kabul has also sent representatives.

The summit hopes to explore means for overcoming and reversing the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan apart from expressing solidarity with the Afghans.

FM Qureshi stated that observers from more or less 90 states were in Islamabad to deliberate on and find a way out of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. He remarked that it would be a wonderful event while chatting with the government broadcaster after reviewing arrangements for visiting guests at the Islamabad International Airport.

Responding to a question he stated that the presence of the  Islamic Development Bank (IDB) president would open doors for humanitarian aid to the Afghans. He remarked that an institutional mechanism for giving direct and timely aid to the Afghan people was needed.

The IDB president reached on Friday and was greeted by senior officials from the Foreign Ministry. He mentioned to APP that the meeting of all Islamic countries at a single forum was a great sign for Muslim ummah  to find out potential solutions to permanent peace in the war-torn country. He vowed that all of of them at the summit would work together to help the Afghans. Also, Niger’s Deputy Foreign Minister arrived in Islamabad to attend the special summit of the OIC.