Riyadh, 30 November 2021 (TDI): The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has called on to convene an important Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit Council of Foreign Ministers to discuss the prevailing situation in Afghanistan. The extraordinary session of OIC is expected to be hosted by Pakistan on 17 December 2021 in Islamabad.
Afghanistan is the founding member of OIC. An impending economic collapse and further deterioration of living conditions will lead to more instability within Afghanistan, which will adversely affect regional and international peace and security.
The Primary Agenda of OIC Summit:
The OIC initiative can urge the Muslim leaders to take essential and collective steps to alleviate the humanitarian needs, provide immediate and sustained support to Afghan people and continue to remain engaged with them for the well-being of the people of Afghanistan.
These include the importance of taking steps to ensure Afghanistan’s security and stability and preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity, free from external interference while rejecting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and ensuring that Afghan territory is not used as a refuge or haven for terrorist and extremist groups.
The meeting will also be highlighting the importance of human and women’s rights and the rights granted by Islam. The Foreign Ministers will urge the interim government of Afghanistan to be more inclusive and follow the international norms and conventions for the peace and security of the region and the world.
The Kingdom hopes that the meeting results in finding appropriate means and mechanisms to deliver aid to Afghans and to coordinate procedures with relevant UN agencies, international financial institutions, and the global community to mitigate the humanitarian impact and alleviate the suffering of Afghans.
Pakistan’s Offer to Host the OIC Summit
Pakistan has supported the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the OIC Summit to solicit the opinion of the policymakers and learn about the matter of chaos and unrest in Afghanistan.
The Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, has welcomed this initiative by brotherly state to discuss the length of challenges in Afghanistan. He has expressed his views in a video message, has offered to host the session of the the OIC Summit Chair, and considered this initiative as a glimmer of hope. He said, “the meeting would consider concrete steps to help address the humanitarian and economic challenges facing Afghanistan”.
The Foreign Minister has further spoken that Muslim Ummah is united in a chain of brotherhood and fraternal bond and this is an obligation of the Muslim community to take collective responsibility for the situation of Afghanistan.
The Kingdom urges international actors, invited giant states and member countries to actively participate in the upcoming extraordinary session to provide Afghans with sustained and immediate support for better survival and well-being.
