Pakistan warns of aftermath of Afghanistan ‘economic collapse’ Taliban News

Pakistan has organized an OIC meeting aimed at devising a mechanism for the international community to provide assistance to Afghanistan, despite sanctions.

Countries that are members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are holding a special meeting in the Pakistani capital Islamabad to discuss solutions to the problems. humanitarian crisis in neighboring Afghanistan.

Representatives and delegates of 57 Islamic nations met on Sunday at the largest conference on Afghanistan since the fall of the US-backed Kabul government in August.

After returning to the Taliban’s lightning power, billions of dollars in aid and assets were frozen the international community, plunged into the worst famine crisis since the 38 million nation began records.

Pakistani officials say a total of 70 delegations are taking part, including Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and representatives from the United States, China, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations.

Diplomats will have a difficult time working out ways to channel support to the Afghan economy, without the support of the Taliban, without their government being recognized internationally.

The aid was announced on Sunday evening.

At the opening of the special meeting, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the effects of the crisis could lead to massive famine and a flood of refugees.

“We cannot ignore the risk of a complete collapse of the economy,” Qureshi said.

He added that the OIC had been asked to consider a six-point plan to help Afghanistan with Taliban authorities to help ease the pressure on their country.

It would include coordinating aid, increasing investment, helping to rebuild Afghanistan’s institutions and providing technical experts in economic management.

The nation has not yet formally recognized it Taliban government. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were the only three countries to recognize the previous Taliban government from 1996 to 2001.

Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, who reported from Islamabad, said the OIC’s credibility was at stake after failing to live up to its promises after previous criticism.

“All eyes will be on the conference,” Hyder said. “It will be important to see if these countries, the second largest group of nations behind the United Nations, will be able to find a tangible solution to help Afghanistan in its crisis.”

Tom West, the U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan, who attended the meeting, expressed his intention to find mechanisms to work with and provide assistance to humanitarian groups in the country.

2/3 I also received critical advice from some implementers of urgent humanitarian programming throughout Afghanistan, including ICRC, NRC, IMC and UN partners. Their work is saving lives. We need to help them grow and make adjustments in areas where there is uncertainty about US policy.

– US Special Representative Thomas West (@US4AfghanPeace) December 18, 2021

The OIC meeting was not expected to give the Taliban new government the formal recognition it desperately wants.

Prior to the session, Qureshi said the meeting would address “the people of Afghanistan” rather than “a particular group”.

He emphasized that there was a difference between “recognition and commitment” to the new order in Kabul.

“Let us let them move in the right direction through persuasion, through incentives,” he told reporters.

“A policy of coercion and intimidation did not work. If it worked, we wouldn’t be in this situation. “