The Organization of Islamic Coooeration (OIC) has vowed to play a leading role in delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of war-torn Afghanistan.
Moreover, the OIC member states unanimously agreed on establishing a Humanitarian Trust Fund, launch a Food Security Programme and engage with the World Health Organization (WHO) for securing vaccines and medical supplies.
The OIC Council of Foreign Ministers' Eextraordinary meeting was held on the initiative of Saudi Arabia and hosted by Pakistan. It was attended by around 70 delegates from the member states, international aid agencies and special representatives.
The unanimously adopted Joint Resolution brings a glimmer of hope for the 22.8 million people – more than half the population of Afghanistan, who face acute food shortage; while 3.2 million children and 700,000 pregnant and lactating women are at a risk of acute malnutrition.
The resolution, endorsed by foreign ministers of about 20 OIC member countries,and deputy minister of 10 other members, calls upon the Islamic Development Bank to expeditiously operationalize the Humanitarian Trust Fund by the first quarter of the next year.
The resolution calls on the OIC Member States, the Islamic Financial Institutions, donors and other international partners to announce pledges to the Humanitarian Trust Fund for Afghanistan as well as to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
Considering the financial constraints of Afghanistan, the forum called for unfreezing Afghanistan's financial assets to prevent an economic collapse and help revive the economic activity.
The OIC decided that a process will be commenced with the UN system organizations to devise a road map for mobilizing actions at the relevant fora to unlock the financial and banking channels to resume liquidity and flow of financial and humanitarian assistance.
The organization also decided to launch an Afghanistan Food Security Programme, urging the Islamic Organization for Food Security to undertake necessary work in this regard.
It decided to appoint a special OIC envoy on Afghanistan to coordinate aid and assistance efforts, and pursue economic and political engagement with the country.
The forum stressed for engaging with donor financial institutions to provide necessary humanitarian and economic assistance to Afghanistan as well as Afghan refugees in neighboring countries.
The resolution reaffirmed the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan and ensuring that the territory of Afghanistan is not used as a platform or safe haven by any terrorist group
or organization.
It called upon Afghanistan to take concrete steps against all "terrorist" organizations in particular Al-Qaeda, Daesh and its affiliates.
The forum reaffirmed that peace, security and stability in Afghanistan would also contribute to the safe and dignified return of all Afghan refugees.
It urged the international community to remain cautious against the possibility of incitement and the role of spoilers, both inside and outside the country, to derail efforts aimed at peace and stability in Afghanistan.
It called upon the Afghan authorities to continue to work towards greater inclusiveness and including by developing a roadmap to strengthen participation of all Afghans including women and girls to participate in all aspects of the Afghan society.
Moreover, the extraordinary OIC session also unanimously adopted Islamabad Declaration condemning the illegal colonial measures undertaken by Israel to colonize the Palestinian territory.
Declaring the Israeli measures as null and void, the document notes that the OIC does not recognize any changes affecting the pre-1967 borders particularly with regard to Al-Quds Al
Sharif.
It called upon the international community including the UNSC to hold the Israeli colonial occupation accountable for its violations and take all necessary measures including
imposing sanctions against Israel to stop these violations.
The declaration also condemned the repeated attacks by Israeli occupation authorities on the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and its continuous attempts to change the historical and legal
status quo there using flimsy religious pretexts. (pickup previous)
Foreign Minister hails the resolution
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Monday said the establishment of a Trust Fund and a resolution for the Afghan banking system’s revival were great successes achieved by the 17th Extraordinary Session of OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers held Sunday.
The foreign minister, in a statement issued a day after the session chaired by him here, said Allah had bestowed Pakistan great respect and success under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
He said the participation of 20 foreign ministers, 10 deputy foreign ministers, and 437 delegates was a huge success for Pakistan, and a great breakthrough made with the coordination between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
He also thanked all relevant institutions and inpiduals 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.
The foreign minister also chaired a high-level meeting attended by Special Secretary Foreign Affairs Raza Bashir Tarar and senior ministry officers.
The minister congratulated the officers for making excellent arrangements for the extraordinary session on short notice.
“I am proud to be leading a team of very competent civil servants and diplomats,” he commented.
He said effective diplomacy was linked with the economic self-dependence which Pakistan was trying to achieve through economic diplomacy.
The foreign minister said Pakistan was looking forward to hosting the 48th session of the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers by March next year.
He said Pakistan had become a focal point of the world’s attention due to its vibrant foreign policy.