ISLAMABAD, Dec 21, (Asia Free Press): The successful hosting of the 17th Extraordinary Session of the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers on Afghanistan got worldwide applause for Pakistan for making the global community awake to the deteriorating humanitarian and economic situation in war-torn Afghanistan.
The extraordinary session has convened by Saudi Arabia as OIC chair and hosted by Pakistan with 20 foreign ministers, t10= deputy FMs and 437 delegates in attendance; the session decided to establish a Humanitarian Trust Fund (HTF) under Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and launch discussions with UN agencies for actions to unlock financial and banking channels for the flow of liquidity and assistance, a state-operated APP reports.
The world leaders, government functionaries, diplomats and analysts termed the meeting of the 57-member Muslim states’ body as a milestone achievement for Pakistan which also manifested its commitment to a stable Afghanistan besides recognising its stance.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a post-session statement, said the establishment of an HTF and adoption of a resolution for the Afghan banking system’s revival were great successes achieved by the summit.
“It was not a matter of the Taliban but 38 million people of Afghanistan who were faced with hunger and other genuine crisis”, the Foreign Minister added while chairing the extraordinary meeting.
He also thanked all relevant institutions and individuals for putting in their efforts to hold the moot, including the Foreign Office staffers, National Assembly Speaker, Senate, armed forces, and local and international media for their reporting on the extraordinary session.
European Union Ambassador in Pakistan Androulla Kaminara wrote on Twitter, “Congrats to Pakistan for successful OIC session. She says the EU has provided €300m humanitarian aid for Afghanistan.”
US Special Representative Thomas West also called it a “productive OIC session with important outcomes” – not least the creation of a humanitarian trust fund and the naming of an OIC Special Envoy.
“The US warmly welcomes the OIC’s role and contributions,” Thomas West added.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato Sri Saifuddin Abdullah, who attended the session and met Prime Minister Imran Khan, later took to Twitter commending Pakistan’s leadership in hosting the meeting to address the crisis in Afghanistan.
Ex-diplomat Jalil Abbas Jilani, who served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US, congratulated the foreign minister and his team for their tireless efforts in organising a “successful” CFMs session on Afghanistan.
“The OIC meeting will go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of our Afghan brothers and sisters,” he commented.
The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator tweeted, “Honoured to address the OIC Extraordinary Ministerial on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan hosted by Prime Minister Imran Khan and Saudi Arabia.”
“The people of Afghanistan were in free fall. We cannot fail to do what we know is right, and what we know is possible, he further claimed in his tweet praising Pakistan for its commendable work.
UK High Commissioner in Islamabad Christian Turner said, “Honoured to represent UK at the 17th Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, alongside observers from China, Russia and the US, Important discussions on Afghanistan and the humanitarian situation.”
Ex-Pakistani diplomat Abdul Basit says, “Congrats Pakistan for hosting an extraordinary session of OIC on Afghanistan in an extraordinary manner. Kudos to all who made this feat possible, especially Foreign Office”.
