As per the UN, the Afghanistan situation could become the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world. With the country's economy crumbling to the ground and a crisis looming over following Taliban’s takeover and US pullout, OIC organised its emergency session in Pakistan to discuss the same. More than 50 countries along with delegates from other countries and organisations came to Islamabad to talk about the situation in Afghanistan.
On December 20, in the Pakistan’s Parliament House in Islamabad, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers held its 17th extraordinary session to discuss the situation in neighbouring Afghanistan.?
The event was attended by envoys from 57 Islamic countries as well as observation delegations. The meeting was attended by the foreign ministers of around 20 nations, with 10 more countries represented by their deputy ministers.?
The rest sent high-ranking officials to the meeting.
Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was also in attendance, even though he was not there as an official OIC delegate, rather just as a representative of the Taliban Government.?
Pakistan and OIC made it clear that this in no way meant a recognition of the Taliban regime. The session was also attended by the delegations from the US, China, Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations. UN undersecretary general on humanitarian affairs as well as the president of the Islamic Development Bank were present at the summit.?
Pakistan hosted the ext?raordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation according to Pakistan Foreign Minister,Shah Mehmood Qureshi, to plan to avert a humanitarian crisis which is rearing its head in Afghanistan following US withdrawal.?
According to Dawn, before the summit Rasheed said “It will be a historic and costly mistake to abandon Afgh?a?nistan at this critical juncture, which may lead to a humanitarian crisis, economic collapse and eventual instability in the region.
The OIC Secretary General, Hissein Brahim Taha, stated the OIC Mission in Kabul's plans to carry out relief efforts in Afghanistan. He further said that OIC is ready to "play its role in supporting humanitarian action in coordination with the relevant OIC missions and relief agencies across the Muslim world."
Pakistan’s foreign minister at the forum presented a six-point plan for coordinating aid, rebuilding Afghan institutions, increasing investment and providing technical expertise to improve Kabul’s economy.
While stating that after a long time Afghanistan was without war and United, Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said “All must acknowledge that political isolation of Afghanistan is not beneficial for anyone, therefore it is imperative that all support the prevailing stability and back it both politically and economically,”
According to the resolution issued after the conference, the participating countries agreed to work with the UN to try to unlock millions of dollars in frozen Afghan assets in order to address the country's escalating humanitarian catastrophe. The resolution further stated that the Islamic Development Bank would lead the endeavour to free up aid by the first quarter of next year.?
While no decision was taken with regards to recognition of the Taliban government, It also urged Taliban to uphold their duties under international human rights treaties, particularly in the areas of women's rights and children's rights.
Talking at the summit, Imran Khan said “When we talk about human rights, every society is different. Every society’s idea of human rights and women’s rights are different,” He also said.?
“Culture in Kabul was always different to rural areas just like in Peshawar it is completely different (the culture) to the districts joining the Afghanistan border.”?
Pakistan Prime Minister's comments received substantial criticism from many sections within and outside Afghanistan. He was blamed for misrepresenting Afghan society. Prominent criticism was visible on social media from Afghan users.?
Aiming in the US. Khan said “They [the US] must de-link the Taliban government from 40 million Afghan citizens, even if they [have] been in conflict with Taliban for 20 years”.?
Overall the summit was well received across the world with the forum receiving commends from all over including the US state secretary. However it was also perceived as interference into Afghan internal politics by many specifically by Afghans with many prominent Afghans speaking against it. While many saw the event as Pakistan trying to leverage its influence in Afghanistan.?
While the event was seen as a success with all the delegates agreeing to the need to do something, one will have to wait and watch if something concrete comes out of it or it just proves to be another show.
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