Pakistan Leads Meeting Of Muslim Nations To Aid Afghanistan Amid Humanitarian Crisis

Written originally by Jack Kerley 19 Dec. 2021.

Over 100 representatives from over 50 Muslim nations will come together in Islamabad Dec. 19 to discuss how the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation can aid the people of Afghanistan without legitimising the Taliban.

According to top Pakistani diplomats, the meeting in Pakistan’s capital will be exclusively to discuss how the OIC can navigate the realities of a Taliban-led Afghanistan while helping the people of Afghanistan at the same time, the Associated Press reported.

Nations around the world are hesitant to recognise the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan due to continuing around their leadership in the wake of the world bank ceasing financial aid due to concerns over the treatment of women, a growing humanitarian crisis and economic sanctions from the international community since their take over in August.

Sana Jamal @Sana_Jamal

Pakistan hosting the biggest international gathering on Afghanistan since recent developments. More than 150 delegates from 54 countries in Islamabad to attend special OIC session. Envoys of P5+1 US, UK, France, China, Russia, Germany & EU also attending. #OICInPakistan

The message for Dec. 19 is, “Please do not abandon Afghanistan. Please engage. We are speaking for the people of Afghanistan. We’re not speaking of a particular group. We are talking about the people of Afghanistan,” said Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday the AP reported.

The Pakistani President Arif Alvi said that it was crucial to avoid the “catastrophe that could foment chaos and conflict” if Afghanistan continued on its current economic and social track, the Hill reported.

Next to the world bank, multiple humanitarian charities along with the wider international community have raised concerns over the risk to LGBT people and women in Afghanistan under the Taliban, the Hill reported.

Saudi Arabia has begun sending humanitarian aid, sending 65 tonnes of aid, including 1,647 food baskets, Al Jazeera reported.

The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Assistance has sent 1.6 billion dollars in aid to Afghanistan so far with America picking up 421 million dollars of that, in October the European Union pledged 1 billion to aid, the BBC reported.