Prime Minister Imran Khan, along with federal ministers, visited the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Secretariat on Wednesday wherein he appreciated the institution’s role for national security, stability and prosperity.
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa was also present, a PM Office statement said.
ISI Director General Lt General Nadeem Ahmed Anjum welcomed the dignitaries. A comprehensive briefing followed the discussion on national security and regional dynamics with focus on the ongoing situation in Afghanistan. The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the professional preparedness to safeguard Pakistan’s national interest.
Meanwhile, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar called on Prime Minister Imran. During the meeting, professional matters pertaining to air defence of the country were discussed.
Separately, Imran Khan welcomed the United Nations’ funding pledge of more than $5 billion for Afghanistan to avert collapsing of basic services in the war-ravaged country.
The premier said that the UN initiative was a result of the outcome of a special meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers hosted by Pakistan.
In a tweet, he reiterated his earlier appeals to the international community to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
“We welcome this UN initiative which has followed Pak-initiated special OIC FMs mtg’s (meeting) pledged support. I have been making this appeal to int community to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan where the ppl (people) have suffered ravages of 40 yrs (years) of conflict,” the prime minister posted on his twitter handle.
Speaking in Geneva on Tuesday, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths informed that $4.4 billion was needed for the Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Plan alone, to pay health workers and others.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said that they were launching an appeal for $4.4 billion for Afghanistan itself for 2022. “This is the largest ever appeal for a single country for humanitarian assistance and it is three times the amount needed, and actually fundraised in 2021,” he added.
According to a press statement issued by the UN, the collapsing structure in the war-torn country had left 22 million in need of assistance inside the country, and 5.7 million people requiring help beyond its borders.
It may be mentioned here that peace with immediate neighbours and economic diplomacy will be the central theme of the country’s foreign policy in the new National Security Policy, scheduled to be unveiled on Friday.
The original 100-page policy, which would be kept under wraps, leaves the door open for trade and business ties with India without final settlement of the longstanding Kashmir dispute provided there is progress in talks between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, an official in a background briefing to journalists said on Tuesday.
